SUMMER PREVIEW
Accomplishments & Accolades
- Division 1 State Champion (XC)
- Region 1 Champion (XC)
- OK Red Champion (XC)
- 2x All-State (XC)
- 2022 Team State Champion (XC)
- 3x All-State (Track)
- 4th Place – 2022 Division 1 3200m
- 6th Place – 2022 Division 1 1600m
Ratings Throughout the Years
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:17.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 176.3 | Under the Lights v2 | 26-Aug |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:22.6 | Holland West Ottawa | 178.1 | Bredeweg | 10-Sep |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:15.8 | Holland West Ottawa | 181.1 | Spartan | 16-Sep |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:01.6 | Holland West Ottawa | 173.1 | OK Red 1 | 20-Sep |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:21.3 | Holland West Ottawa | 168.9 | Otsego Bulldog | 1-Oct |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:32.8 | Holland West Ottawa | 169.1 | OK Red 2 | 4-Oct |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:03.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 175.3 | Portage | 8-Oct |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:06.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 169.3 | OK Red Championship | 20-Oct |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:01.8 | Holland West Ottawa | 177.4 | Region 1 | 29-Oct |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:18.7 | Holland West Ottawa | 172.8 | Division 1 State | 5-Nov |
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:56.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 171.3 | Portage EB | 20-Aug |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 18:40.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 156.3 | Under the Lights v2 | 27-Aug |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:55.5 | Holland West Ottawa | 166.5 | Bredeweg | 11-Sep |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:48.5 | Holland West Ottawa | 173.8 | Spartan | 17-Sep |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:36.8 | Holland West Ottawa | 159.4 | OK Red 1 | 21-Sep |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:27.8 | Holland West Ottawa | 170.4 | Otsego Bulldog | 2-Oct |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 18:13.3 | Holland West Ottawa | 158.6 | OK Red 2 | 5-Oct |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:26.1 | Holland West Ottawa | 175.3 | Portage | 9-Oct |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:30.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 161.3 | OK Red Conference | 21-Oct |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 18:39.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 141.0 | Region 3 | 29-Oct |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:48.1 | Holland West Ottawa | 161.0 | Division 1 State | 6-Nov |
The Rundown
Lessons learned turned into lessons applied. As a freshman, Helen competed in nearly 40 races on the track or on the grass, coming away with a few victories, but mainly a ton of 2nd-3rd places. In doing so, she learned how to chase, run behind someone, and cover moves, biding her time until it was her time to set the pace.
The 2022 fall season was without a doubt, her time to set the pace. After her opener at Under the Lights (a PB at the time, Helen, mind you), she reeled off a season full of victories. Aggressively setting the pace from the gun, she took home wins at huge invites such as Otsego Bulldog, Spartan and Portage, running in the low-17’s and priming herself for championship season. That championship season went about as spectacularly as the regular season, with victories in the OK Red, Region 1, NXR Midwest, and Division 1 State. Unfortunately, her postseason was cut short by injury (but she still made it to Oregon and San Diego!) and then track the same, but I trust that the West Ottawa coaches will have Helen ready to defend her individual and their team title.
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 