A few weeks ago, Elena Aldrink became the 2025 girls cross country OHSAA state champion by annihilating her competition at Fortress Obetz. Most people would stop there, content with being a state champion, but not Aldrink. For the past two weeks, she has continued her training (which she has been doing since July), only now without her team to accompany her; all of this leading up to the Nike Cross Regionals Midwest (NxR) championship race, which includes all the fastest runners in the midwest. It’s no easy feat to qualify for this race, much less place in the top 10, yet Aldrink accomplished both. On Sunday, Aldrink raced against over 300 of the fastest high school runners in the country and took 8th place overall, finishing in a 17:18. 55, less than 25 seconds off her personal record. Aldrink ranked 5th and 6th throughout most of the race, before getting passed by a few girls at the finish; nevertheless impressing her coaches, teammates, and family with her outstanding performance.