Where: Portage West MS
A course that needs to handle the biggest meet in the state. Wide turns, runner-friendly, spectator friendly. One hill, early and little over half way, fairly flat the rest of the way. Tended to run a little fast last year and compared to previous years at the same course. All in all, a fair test. The ever helpful, wearer of many hats, major reason the sport in Michigan is prioritized the way it is, Dan Wytko sent me this map of the course:
2021 Boys: Caledonia (2nd), Portage Central (20th), Battle Creek Lakeview (22nd)
2021 Girls: Holland West Ottawa (2nd), Zeeland West (24th), St. Joseph (17th)
Unfortunately, to finish all these previews before Friday morning, some areas need to get cut. The writing about the various athletes, any sort of team battles, history, backdrop, that’s the most logical area to take in order to save time. The negative is that’s my favorite part. The positive is that with a lighter schedule of meets next week, I’ll be able to write my Upper Peninsula preview (yes, you read that right) and fill these in. So I’ll likely post an update to all the socials after those athletes are covered, and maybe we’ll have more info on some of the teams that are in contention.
Top 25 Boys Teams: Portage Central (4th), Kalamazoo Central (15th), Forest Hills Central (19th)
Top 25 Girls Teams: Forest Hills Central (9th), Lowell (20th), Forest Hills Northern (25th)
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 
Region 3 girls miss season seem off you left off the fastest portage northern runner Olivia Stacy and placed Amanda Williams lower than two northern girls that she’s beat every race so far.
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Stacy is in there at #6.
These rankings aren’t just head to head. The essence of the speed ratings is that they compare also when runners don’t compete against each other. Could be that Amanda was better in those races and that the Northern (FHN? Portage?) girls had poor races. Either way, all numbers from races that they’ve run.
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I just realized you’re viewing the summer preview. Probably didn’t know Stacy was running, idk? Looks like she’s having a great season.
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You are correct the mid season team rankings lead me to assume the top girls chart was also mid season. Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. I appreciate you taking the time and please keep up the great work.
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