Ohhh, we’re back up and running on these. The title is influenced from the guys at MGoBlog, who use it to sift through the various players projected to start for Michigan. Here, I’m using it to count down whom I project to be the top 50 returners heading into the 2022 season.
This is partially a ranking, but partially not. Yes, there are measurables for how much the typical runner improves from year to year and the same for what ratings a runner can achieve given their track season. Both are factored in here. The runners are ranked from whom I project to be the 50th fastest returner to the fastest.
These posts are about much more than rankings. Consider them a celebration of the sport and a celebration of our great athletes. When August rolls around, it ain’t gonna matter who was ranked where. On the other hand, I can’t let a summer speed by without mentioning the outstanding runners that make up our sport. If you’re not included in the top 50, there’s a very good chance I’ll give you a shoutout in either the regional previews or top teams.
- One in the line of many Mellings who have taken on the sport
- Brothers Garrett and Landon are Hanover-Horton legends, All-Staters, Garrett running for Davenport now and Landon making a name for himself in the announcing realm
- As a freshman, he was a key contributor, the 3rd runner, on their State Title squad
- Rogan has been extremely consistent throughout his career, you’ll notice very few poor performances in big races, almost all championship races are a season best or close to one
- His cross times have slowly been trending downwards, reaching his lowest time in the last official race of the 2021 season, a 16:14 at State
- A similar trend occurred in track by an even greater margin, his 9:42 victory at the Selby Classic was nearly a 20 sec. personal best
Throughout The Years
(Ratings throughout time. You’ll notice that I track more data as the years have gone on, date and actual race time weren’t a thing on the MIXCSR sheets back in the day.)
| Grade | Name | Time | Rating | Meet | Course | Date |
| 11 | Rogan Melling | 16:50.6 | 189.5 | Harper Creek Optimist | Harper Creek HS | 28-Aug |
| 11 | Rogan Melling | 16:39.6 | 182.8 | Hillsdale | Owen Memorial Park | 1-Sep |
| 11 | Rogan Melling | 16:48.3 | 186.2 | Bath | Bath HS | 11-Sep |
| 11 | Rogan Melling | 16:33.6 | 196.8 | Spartan | Forest Akers | 17-Sep |
| 11 | Rogan Melling | 16:36.1 | 190.6 | Jackson | Sharp Park | 25-Sep |
| 11 | Rogan Melling | 16:18.4 | 192.9 | Bluejay | Shepherd HS | 2-Oct |
| 11 | Rogan Melling | 16:22.1 | 195.3 | Portage | Portage West MS | 9-Oct |
| 11 | Rogan Melling | 16:44.3 | 184.6 | Chris Jensen | Sharp Park | 16-Oct |
| 11 | Rogan Melling | 16:52.6 | 186.5 | Cascades Conference | Sharp Park | 20-Oct |
| 11 | Rogan Melling | 16:37.5 | 188.8 | 23 Sharp Park | Sharp Park | 29-Oct |
| 11 | Rogan Melling | 16:14.6 | 189.8 | D3 State | MIS | 6-Nov |
| 11 | Rogan Melling | 16:27.7 | 189.8 | MMOC | Shepherd HS | 13-Nov |
| Grade | Name | Rating | Meet | Course | Date |
| 10 | Rogan Melling | 171.2 | Hillsdale Academy | Hayden Park | 11-Sep |
| 10 | Rogan Melling | 177.9 | Harriers for Hope | Peacock Tree Farm | 19-Sep |
| 10 | Rogan Melling | 171.0 | Grass Lake/Hanover Horton | Grass Lake HS | 22-Sep |
| 10 | Rogan Melling | 175.3 | Jackson Friendly | Sharp Park | 26-Sep |
| 10 | Rogan Melling | 169.3 | Sand Creek | Sand Creek HS | 10-Oct |
| 10 | Rogan Melling | 179.3 | PR 45 | Hudson HS | 24-Oct |
| 10 | Rogan Melling | 178.1 | D3 Reg 23 | Sharp Park | 30-Oct |
| 10 | Rogan Melling | 190.0 | D3 State | MIS | 7-Nov |
| Grade | Name | Rating | Meet | Course |
| 9 | Rogan Melling | 189.3 | Optimist | Harper Creek HS |
| 9 | Rogan Melling | 186.3 | Springport | Springport HS |
| 9 | Rogan Melling | 175.7 | Bath | Bath HS |
| 9 | Rogan Melling | 166.9 | Spartan | Forest Akers |
| 9 | Rogan Melling | 175.3 | Jackson | Sharp Park |
| 9 | Rogan Melling | 186.3 | BlueJay | Shepherd HS |
| 9 | Rogan Melling | 183.7 | Portage | Portage West MS |
| 9 | Rogan Melling | 184.7 | J Chris Jensen | Sharp Park |
| 9 | Rogan Melling | 181.8 | 23 | Sharp Park |
| 9 | Rogan Melling | 177.7 | D3 State | MIS |
- Inconspicuous to some (but noticed by me), Mariah burst onto the Macomb County scene as a freshman on the Dakota track squad, hitting marks such as 2:28 and 5:25
- She’s had great upperclassmen to look to: the Harveys, Slone, Myziuk and she’s got a pretty good classmate as well
- Her introduction to HS cross country came last fall and she was able to back up that track prowess, gaining accolades and hitting times that matched the potential shown earlier
- Among those, dipping under 19:00 on four occasions and nabbing top-5 at both the MAC Division Meet and Macomb County Championship
- She’s a selfless teammate, part of multiple championship and All-State relay squads, both in the 4×4 and 4×8
Throughout The Years
| Grade | Name | Time | Rating | Meet | Course | Date |
| 10 | Mariah Belmont | 19:50.2 | 145.6 | Mariner | Columbus County Park | 20-Aug |
| 10 | Mariah Belmont | 19:58.1 | 130.6 | Budd Ciciarelli | Bloomer Park | 2-Sep |
| 10 | Mariah Belmont | 18:51.1 | 144.3 | Muskrat Classic | Algonac HS | 11-Sep |
| 10 | Mariah Belmont | 19:19.6 | 140.1 | MAC Red 1 | Eastwood Beach | 21-Sep |
| 10 | Mariah Belmont | 19:01.4 | 144.5 | Jefferson | Sterling State Park | 25-Sep |
| 10 | Mariah Belmont | 18:55.1 | 140.6 | MAC Division | Metro Beach | 5-Oct |
| 10 | Mariah Belmont | 19:21.5 | 141.2 | Macomb County | Freedom Hill | 16-Oct |
| 10 | Mariah Belmont | 20:32.0 | 135.3 | 9 Anchor Bay | Anchor Bay HS | 29-Oct |
| 10 | Mariah Belmont | 18:59.3 | 137.2 | D1 State | MIS | 6-Nov |
| 10 | Mariah Belmont | 18:30.7 | 147.4 | MMOC | Shepherd HS | 13-Nov |
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 
My favorite part of the summer. Look forward to this list.
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