Editor’s note: We prohibit the use of bots and any other artificial methods of voting. Suspicious activity could lead to the disqualification of candidates and a permanent suspension of the Athlete of the Week poll. No voting by email: Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) girls Athlete of the Week poll.
For the entire academic year, we will provide a list of candidates who stood out over the previous week and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner.
This week, we consider performances from May 13-18.
Polls close at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Vote as many times as you’d like until then without using bots or any other artificial methods of voting.
Votes by email and after 5 p.m. Wednesday are not counted.
Scroll to the bottom for the poll.
Winners are announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections.
Candidates for future Athlete of the Week polls can be nominated at [email protected].
We accept nominations until 11 a.m. each Monday.
We also review stats submitted to MaxPreps by coaches/team statisticians.
On to the nominees:
Milani Bell, Pittsburg track and field: Bell, a senior, had one hectic day at the North Coast Section championships. She won the 400 meters in 56.33 and helped the Pirates win the team championship, and then raced out of the Dublin stadium to go to prom.
Kinga Czajkowska, Palo Alto track and field: Czajkowska, a junior, shined in the long-distance events at the Central Coast Section championships in Gilroy. She won the 3200 in 10:39.76, and finished second in the 1600 with a time of 4:53.98.
Olivia Fleming, Burlingame softball: Fleming, a senior, was 3 for 3 with four RBIs in Burlingame’s 16-0 victory over LCPA in the first round of the CCS Division V playoffs. She is hitting .449 on the season.
Miley Gradney, Alameda softball: Gradney, a freshman, came up big in Alameda’s 10-inning victory over rival Bishop O’Dowd. She tied the game with a bases loaded walk, and then gave the Hornets a lead they would not relinquish when she doubled in a run in the 10th inning.
Kylie Hoornaert, Prospect track and field: Hoornaert, a junior, came in first in the 800 meters at the CCS championships after she ran the event in 2.10.78. Hoornaert said her strategy was to start fast, and that tactic paid off.
Taylor Jennings, Liberty softball: Jennings, a freshman, hit a home run as part of a 2 for 4 day in Liberty’s 8-3 upset victory over No. 2 Vintage in the NCS Division I playoffs. She ended the week batting .459 with seven home runs on the season.
Zoe Lahanas, Clayton Valley Charter track and field: Lahanas, a senior, won the 800 at the North Coast Section championships after running it in 2:15.85. A remarkable story of perseverance, Lahanas was hospitalized from a car crash in March and was unable to go outside for two weeks. Lahanas said ““Everything right now is a privilege.”
Ellie McCuskey-Hay, St. Ignatius track and field: McCuskey-Hay, a sophomore, won her fifth and sixth CCS titles on Saturday when she won the long jump with 18’1.5” and repeated in the 100 meters in 11.9. The sophomore also qualified for the state meet in the 4X100 and 200 meters.
Taylor Oden, Archbishop Mitty track and field: Oden, a senior, placed second in the 100-meter hurdles to her teammate Laniah Simpson at the CCS championships. She also helped the Mitty relay team win the 4X100 championship, and was a big reason the Monarchs won the team title.
Pinkie Schnayer, Campolindo track and field: Schnayer, a senior, won a pair of events at the NCS championships. She was first in the discus at 128-04.00, and then hurled the shot put 45-02.50.