Vote now: Bay Area News Group girls athlete of the week

Vote for the Bay Area News Group girls Athlete of the Week poll. Winners announced each Friday. No bots or email votes.

Welcome to the Bay Area News Group (Mercury News & East Bay Times) girls Athlete of the Week poll. We want to make sure the voting process is fair and transparent, so 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. Remember, no voting by email and votes after 5 p.m. on Wednesday will not be counted.

Each week, we will provide a list of candidates who have excelled in their respective sports and allow you, the reader, to vote for the winner. Feel free to vote as many times as you'd like, but please refrain from using any artificial methods.

Winners will be announced each Friday online and in the print edition of the Mercury News and East Bay Times sports sections. If you have a candidate in mind for future Athlete of the Week polls, you can nominate them by emailing [email protected].

Let's take a look at some of the standout athletes from the past week:

Milani Bell from Pittsburg had a remarkable day at the North Coast Section championships, winning the 400 meters and helping her team secure the team championship before rushing off to prom. Kinga Czajkowska from Palo Alto impressed in the long-distance events at the Central Coast Section championships, winning the 3200 and finishing second in the 1600.

Olivia Fleming from Burlingame had a stellar performance in a playoff game, going 3 for 3 with four RBIs. Miley Gradney from Alameda played a key role in her team's victory with a crucial hit in extra innings. Kylie Hoornaert from Prospect dominated the 800 meters at the CCS championships with a strategic race plan.

Taylor Jennings from Liberty hit a home run in an upset victory over a higher-seeded team in the playoffs. Zoe Lahanas from Clayton Valley Charter showed incredible perseverance after recovering from a car crash to win the 800 at the NCS championships. Ellie McCuskey-Hay from St. Ignatius continued her winning streak with two titles at the CCS meet.

Taylor Oden from Archbishop Mitty placed second in the 100-meter hurdles and contributed to her team's relay victory at the CCS championships. These athletes have shown dedication, skill, and determination in their respective sports, making them worthy candidates for the Athlete of the Week title. Cast your vote below and stay tuned for the announcement of the winner this Friday!