Rebekah Topham didn’t let a lack of sleep, sore calves or Pekin (Packwood) runner Gwynne Wright get in her way. On Saturday, the Griswold, Iowa, senior set a state record with her fourth consecutive individual title in the Class 1A cross country meet. She leads the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Performances of the Week.
Topham passed Wright around the two-kilometer mark and finished 26 seconds ahead of her, running the 4K course at the Fort Dodge’s Lakeside Municipal Golf Course in 14 minutes, 32.2 seconds. Priot to Tophham, only 50 girls nationally have won four individual state titles in cross country, according to the National Federation of State High School Associations record book and Topham is the first from Iowa.
“I didn’t sleep well last night, I kept thinking about the race,” Topham told the Des Moines Register. “I only slept two hours.”
Topham helped her team capture third place at the meet. She is considering Iowa State, Wichita State and Arkansas.
The rest of this week’s American Family Insurance ALL-USA Performances of the Week:
Jorge Amaya, quarterback, Hawkins (Los Angeles)
Junior completed 45 of 56 passes for 739 yards and five touchdowns in a 46-27 defeat of West Adams (Los Angeles) on Friday.
Kelly Barnhill, softball, Pope (Marietta, Ga.)
Senior, who has committed to Florida, struck out 16 batters in her 20th career no-hitter to lead her team to a 4-0 defeat of Hillgrove (Powder Springs) for the state Class AAAAAA softball title Saturday.
Olin Hacker, cross country, West, Madison, Wis.
Senior, who has committed to Wisconsin, won his second consecutive Division I state individual cross country title and helped his team to the team title with a time of 14 minutes, 59.1 seconds Saturday on the 5K course at Wisconsin Rapids.
Ashley Hickman, soccer, Knoxville (Tenn.) Catholic
Senior scored a hat trick in her team’s 4-0 A-AA state championship defeat of Notre Dame (Chattanooga) on Saturday.
Keyshawn Lowe, running back, Peach County, Fort Valley, Ga.
Senior ran 30 times for 295 yards and six touchdowns in a 49-16 defeat of Westside (Macon) on Friday.
Matthew Maton, cross country, Summit, Bend, Ore.
Broke Galen Rupp’s 11-year-old state 5K meet record Saturday with a time of 14 minutes and 45 seconds. He was the top finisher in the 5A race and led his school to the 5A state team title.
Joe Randall, running back, Alvord, Texas
Senior ran for 332 yards and seven touchdowns in a 72-14 defeat of Chico on Friday.
Doug Santos, running back, Peabody, Mass.
Junior running back ran for 255 yards and six touchdowns in a 42-38 defeat of Lexington on Friday.
Jahmiere Van Kline, running back, Bordentown, N.J.
Senior rushed for 279 yards and six touchdowns in a 39-0 defeat of Florence on Saturday, breaking a school record. He has scored at least three touchdowns in every game this season.