Alabama Boys Cross Country Performer of the Week Aug. 24-30

After another week of cross country racing in Alabama, it's time to vote for the MileSplit Alabama boys cross country performer of the week.

The poll closes Friday at 2 p.m. ET.

Check out this week's nominees and cast your vote below.

Note: Athletes who have been nominated in the past two weeks are not eligible. Previous winners are excluded for the rest of the season.

This Week's Nominees:

Rua Mathis, Jacksonville (Alabama): A 53.5-second margin separated the winner from the rest of a 198-runner field at the Pleasant Valley Raider Run Invitational, with the 5K covered in 17:26.82. That clocking ranks No. 10 of 795 athletes in MileSplit's database at Pleasant Valley High School since 2019, and it comes 302.0 seconds faster than a prior mark of 22:28.79 on this course.

Nehemiah Johnson, Hazel Green (Alabama): A 15:31.65 clocking in the 5K brought a win at the Black & Gold Classic, sponsored by Bradford Wellness, with the senior crossing 10.5 seconds ahead of the rest of the 148-runner field. That time now ranks No. 20 of 3,164 athletes in MileSplit's database at John R. Esslinger Trail of Champions since 2019, a mark that improves on a prior 16:16.49 by 44.8 seconds on this course.

Gabe James, Northside (Alabama): A freshman covered the 5K in 16:27.22 to win the Northridge Black & Blue XC Invitational, finishing 42.6 seconds ahead of the field of 72. The time ranks No. 24 of 1,501 athletes in MileSplit's database at Munny Sokol Park since 2019.

Riley Cuthbertson, Auburn HS (Alabama): Out of 187 finishers at the 30th Annual Tiger Classic, the win came in 16:38.90 for the 5K, just 5.3 seconds clear of the field. The performance ranks No. 18 of 1,093 athletes in MileSplit's database at Kiesel Park since 2019, and it's 26.5 seconds faster than a prior 17:05.44 on this course.

Chapman Bowers, Guardian Christian Athletics (Alabama): The Shadow Lake Invitational 5K ended in 17:42.90, good for a 40.1-second win over a 64-runner field. That time stands as the fastest in MileSplit's database at Grace Life Baptist Church since 2024, among 107 athletes on record there.