50 Tickets to Brooklyn: Boys #2

SUMMER PREVIEW

Accomplishments & Accolades

• Division 2 State Champion (XC)
• 3x All-State (XC)
• 14^th Place – CHAMPS National Championship (XC)
• Region 18 Champion (XC)
• SEC White Champion (XC)
• 4^th Place – Division 2 State 3200m
• 8^th Place – Division 2 State 1600m
• 5x All-State (Track)



Ratings Throughout the Years

Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
11	Connell Alford	15:31.2	Chelsea	216.9	Saline Early Bird	1-Sep
11	Connell Alford	15:31.8	Chelsea	207.1	SEC 1	14-Sep
11	Connell Alford	15:06.8	Chelsea	222.8	Spartan	16-Sep
11	Connell Alford	15:46.2	Chelsea	205.3	SEC White 2	28-Sep
11	Connell Alford	14:53.2	Chelsea	218.3	Otsego Bulldog	1-Oct
11	Connell Alford	15:01.8	Chelsea	215.4	Portage	8-Oct
11	Connell Alford	15:18.5	Chelsea	204.8	Gabriel Richard	15-Oct
11	Connell Alford	15:06.4	Chelsea	208.5	SEC Championship	20-Oct
11	Connell Alford	14:53.0	Chelsea	210.7	Region 18	29-Oct
11	Connell Alford	15:12.6	Chelsea	216.8	Division 2 State	5-Nov
Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
10	Connell Alford	16:23.8	Chelsea	205.4	A2 Fall Preview	26-Aug
10	Connell Alford	15:59.8	Chelsea	206.4	SEC 1	14-Sep
10	Connell Alford	16:05.4	Chelsea	206.2	Spartan	17-Sep
10	Connell Alford	16:37.1	Chelsea	206.0	SEC White 2	28-Sep
10	Connell Alford	15:54.1	Chelsea	204.0	Coaching Legends	2-Oct
10	Connell Alford	16:00.7	Chelsea	202.4	Portage	9-Oct
10	Connell Alford	15:38.1	Chelsea	200.3	Gabriel Richard	16-Oct
10	Connell Alford	16:00.6	Chelsea	199.5	SEC Championship	21-Oct
10	Connell Alford	16:56.9	Chelsea	199.7	Region 18	30-Oct
10	Connell Alford	15:42.6	Chelsea	203.1	Division 2 State	6-Nov
Grade	Name		Team	Rating	Meet	Date
9	Connell Alford		Chelsea	182.7	Adrian/Chelsea/Tecumseh Tri	26-Aug
9	Connell Alford		Chelsea	188.6	Chelsea/Homer/Stockbridge	28-Aug
9	Connell Alford		Chelsea	196.6	Chelsea/Pioneer	2-Sep
9	Connell Alford		Chelsea	196.9	Jackson	19-Sep
9	Connell Alford		Chelsea	190.3	Chelsea/Dexter	29-Sep
9	Connell Alford		Chelsea	201.5	Bulldog Elite	3-Oct
9	Connell Alford		Chelsea	187.6	Pre-Region 35	24-Oct
9	Connell Alford		Chelsea	192.6	Region 18	31-Oct
9	Connell Alford		Chelsea	198.9	Division 2 State	6-Nov

The Rundown

Forever he’s been a force, his junior year is where it all came to fruition. Through his first two years in high school, Connell racked up a number of honors. Multiple All-States on the grass and track, sub-16’s in each of his two years, 4^th place as a sophomore. Somers, Jarema, Lambers all graduating, a strong senior class moving on, titling opportunities opened up for plenty.

Connell seized every bit of that opportunity. After two wins in the Saline Early Bird and the first SEC White Jamboree, he raced with the big boys at Spartan, hanging with all the way to 3^rd place finish, a 15:06 and Chelsea school record. The D2 mid-season is packed with teams racing against each other, two prominent examples being Otsego Bulldog and Portage, and each were substantial victories, 100+ meters the gap. Post-Spartan, he picked up win after win, an undefeated and unchallenged streak growing in numbers. At State, it was more of the same, leading the field through a pedestrian first mile (5:03), before laying down the hammer, closing his last 2.1 in 4:50 pace.

Post-season cross and spring season track showed more of that strength. In the late fall, he powered through the Midwest Regional and into Nationals, placing 14^th in San Diego. Come spring, he was one of the few to double AND medal in both the 1600m and 3200m at State.

If Lamplighter is any indication, he’ll only continue his domination. The race was over quite early, as he ran away from a D1-centric field en route to a 25-second victory. It’s a dare to anyone in D2 or the entire state – can you withstand the pain and pressure I’ll put you through? We have a whole season to find out if anyone is up to the task.