There were 5,645 votes cast in the latest Joe Orthodontics High School Athlete of the Week poll.
Hesperia cross country runner Kaydence Manjarrez ended with 76.3% of total votes cast by Daily Press readers.
The sophomore received 4,307 votes, beating out 13 other high school athletes from across the High Desert.
To earn a spot on the ballot, Manjarrez placed fourth in the girls Division 1 varsity 5,000-meter race at the 47th ASICS Clovis Invitational on Oct. 10 with a time of 18:32.8.
In the voting, Manjarrez beat Apple Valley football player Shyan Biswas, who received 21.9% at 1,234 total votes.
The nominees were selected based on performances between Oct. 5 through 10.
Nominations are based on information available to the Daily Press. All high school varsity players from the High Desert can be considered for the ballot.
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Nominations must be received for consideration by Sunday morning following that week's games. Anyone can nominate an Athlete of the Week for every varsity sport.
Want to get to know our winner a little better? Check out what Manjarrez had to say.
- How long have you run cross country, and how did you get started: I think it’ll be four years now. I got started because I wanted to stay in shape for soccer, so I just joined it.
- What do you like most about cross country: It allows me to get my mind off of everything. It’s just a little time to run and get away from everything.
- Do you have a pre-run ritual: Not really. I kind of just like to listen to music and stare off into the distance, trying to get into the right headspace.
- What’s your most memorable sports moment: Probably at CIF Prelims because I thought I ran a 16, but I didn’t. It was really cool in the moment, and I ran to my mom, so that was nice.
- What’s the most embarrassing thing that’s happened to you during a meet: At the start of the season, I drank an energy drink before my race and I ran so bad. It was horrible, and it was the season opener too, so it was very embarrassing.
- What are some of your hobbies: I don’t really have any. I like to read, study and do homework.
- What’s something you’re really good at: I don’t know. That’s a good question.
- What’s something you’re terrible at: Probably basketball.
- If you had an extra hour every day, how would you spend it: Either studying or sleeping.
- What’s your favorite subject in school: Biology.
- What’s your least favorite subject: Math.
- If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why: Tennessee, because I really like country music.
- What superpower do you wish you had: Super speed.
- What’s the first thing you’d buy if you became a millionaire tomorrow: Probably running shoes.
- What’s your favorite meal: I guess, if this counts, ice cream. Just a big old bowl. I love it.
- What’s your favorite restaurant: I don’t think I have one.
- What’s your go-to fast-food order: A plain Double-Double, fries and a Coke.
- What food could you eat every day: Ice cream.
- What’s your favorite song: “Anyways” by Zach Bryan
- What song gets you hyped up before a run: There’s a couple. “Dancing in the Dark” by Bruce Springsteen and “Dog Days Are Over” by Florence + The Machine
- What song are you embarrassed to admit you know the words to: There’s a couple. I can’t think of one off the top of my head, but there’s a little bit.
- What’s your favorite sports team: I don’t know.
- Who’s your favorite athlete: Allie Ostrander. She’s a runner.
- Who’s your favorite superhero: I don’t have one.
- What’s your favorite show: “Off Campus”
- What’s your favorite movie: Either “Purple Hearts” or “People We Meet on Vacation”
Be sure to nominate athletes for next school week’s ballot through email to sports reporter Jose Quintero at JQuintero@VVDailyPress.com. Feel free to also reach out to him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @J0seQuintero, or on Instagram at @760Varsity. Please include a player’s statistics and a photo if possible.
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Hesperia’s Kaydence Manjarrez is the Joe Orthodontics High School Athlete of the Week