Here are the finalists for MileSplit LA Girls' Performer of the Week. Your vote will determine who wins and moves on to compete for Athlete of the Month. The poll will close on Saturday at 9pm.
ALANA SIMON (EPSICOPAL) - OK, in the past, we may be guilty of adding an "I" to her first name, but Simon is guilty of adding onother "W" to resume after the LSU Last Chance Qualifier. Simon won the high jump by half a foot and extended her state lead with her 5-7 effort. Simon is currently ranked No. 15 in the US.
ELISE BROWN (ST. JOSEPH'S ACADEMY)- Finished second in the girls 3200m at the LSU Last Chance Qualifier with an 11:17.72. The time ranks No. 3 in Louisiana this year and ranks No. 33 nationally among junior girls. Brown also has the third fastest time in the 1600m during the indoor season with her 5:12.67 at the McNeese High School Indoor No. II meet.
SADE GRAY (SCOTLANDVILLE) - After making the finals of every sprint event she has been entered in this season, Gray finally broke through and picked up her first win of 2023. Her personal record time of 7.61 in the 60m is second only to teammate Makeriah Harris (7.56). After winning first state championship in the LHSAA Class 5A State Outdoor meet in the 200m (23.86), Gray is the favorite to win the 60m at Saturday's LHSAA State Indoor Meet. If she comes away with the victory, it will be her first indoor state title. She also finished third in the 400m at the Last Chance, running an impressive 57.75.
GENEVIEVE PLAISANCE (NEWMAN) - If we've had another freshman in our Performer of the Week polls, it has slipped our mind. We think Plaisance is a first this season for the Class of 2026. Plaisance finished second to Simon in the high jump with an effort of 5-1. The mark puts her in a tie for fifth in Louisiana, and it ranks No. 18th nationally among freshman girls.
RACHEL FEREDAY (DUTCHTOWN) - Fereday came into the 2023 with a bullseye on her back after winning both the indoor and outdoor state title in the girls' 800m. And it's not like she hasn't had quality competition to knock her off the top spot. Fereday's competition has been unsuccessful--thus far. No Louisiana runner has been able to beat her in her specialty. Fereday had her indoor personal record of 2:17.26, which is faster than her time in the 2022 LHSAA Sate Indoor Meet (2:17.90) in which she claimed her first state title. Fereday also ran a 59.90 to finish eighth in the 400m at the Last Chance Meet.
DEMETRIA HARRIS (HUNTINGTON) - Harris added three LSU t-shirts to her wardrobe after the LSU Last Chance Meet. Harris continued to "knock off the rust" in making three trips to the podium. It started with her work on Huntington's 4x200 team, which finished third with a 1:44.08. Harris also made the podium for her third place performance in the long jump (18-2) and 60m hurdles (9.03). Both marks rank No. 29 in the nation among junior girls.