THE SUMMER PREVIEW
Accomplishments & Accolades
- 800m – 2:16
- 1600m – 4:51
- 3200m – 10:20
- 5k (XC) – 16:47
- 11th Place – D1 State
- 2022 Champion
- 3x All-State
- 2nd Place – Region 1
- 3x Top-2
- 4th Place – D1 State 1600m
- 5th Place – D1 State 3200m
- D1 State 4×8 Champion
- 6x All-State (Track)
Ratings Throughout the Years
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 11 | Helen Sachs | 18:17.7 | Holland West Ottawa | 148.8 | Division 1 State | 4-Nov | 2023 |
| 11 | Helen Sachs | 18:38.1 | Holland West Ottawa | 140.0 | Region 1 | 28-Oct | 2023 |
| 11 | Helen Sachs | 19:57.5 | Holland West Ottawa | 114.9 | OK Red Conference | 19-Oct | 2023 |
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:18.7 | Holland West Ottawa | 172.8 | Division 1 State | 5-Nov | 2022 |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:01.8 | Holland West Ottawa | 177.4 | Region 1 | 29-Oct | 2022 |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:06.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 169.3 | OK Red Conference | 20-Oct | 2022 |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:03.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 175.3 | Portage | 8-Oct | 2022 |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:32.8 | Holland West Ottawa | 169.1 | OK Red 2 | 4-Oct | 2022 |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:21.3 | Holland West Ottawa | 168.9 | Otsego Bulldog | 1-Oct | 2022 |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:01.6 | Holland West Ottawa | 173.1 | OK Red 1 | 20-Sep | 2022 |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:15.8 | Holland West Ottawa | 181.1 | Spartan | 16-Sep | 2022 |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:22.6 | Holland West Ottawa | 178.1 | Bredeweg | 10-Sep | 2022 |
| 10 | Helen Sachs | 17:17.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 176.3 | Under the Lights v2 | 26-Aug | 2022 |
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:48.1 | Holland West Ottawa | 161.0 | Division 1 State | 6-Nov | 2021 |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 18:39.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 141.0 | Region 3 | 29-Oct | 2021 |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:30.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 161.3 | OK Red Conference | 21-Oct | 2021 |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:26.1 | Holland West Ottawa | 175.3 | Portage | 9-Oct | 2021 |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 18:13.3 | Holland West Ottawa | 158.6 | OK Red 2 | 5-Oct | 2021 |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:27.8 | Holland West Ottawa | 170.4 | Otsego Bulldog | 2-Oct | 2021 |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:36.8 | Holland West Ottawa | 159.4 | OK Red 1 | 21-Sep | 2021 |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:48.5 | Holland West Ottawa | 173.8 | Spartan | 17-Sep | 2021 |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:55.5 | Holland West Ottawa | 166.5 | Bredeweg | 11-Sep | 2021 |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 18:40.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 156.3 | Under the Lights (GRSC) | 27-Aug | 2021 |
| 9 | Helen Sachs | 17:56.0 | Holland West Ottawa | 171.3 | Portage EB | 20-Aug | 2021 |
The Rundown
She’s not back, she’s better.
The last time Helen completed a full season of cross country, she left MIS with a state title. Hard to be much better than that, but she is. In her own words, Helen describes it perfectly:
Wonderfully written and genuine quotes.
What I can tell you is that Helen was certainly better in 2024. Her track season consisted of faster times and higher accomplishments than she’s ever attained on the oval.
I’ve always considered her more of an endurance runner than a speedster. In 2022, she had one of the better freshman track campaigns you’ll see, especially in the longer distances. Two years later, she moved her 1600m best from 4:52 to 4:51 and her 3200m best from 10:26 to 10:20. The 800m had even more drops, from 2:19 to 2:16.
Victories were the real difference. Whereas her freshman version didn’t win a single individual race during championship season, her junior version hit the tape first in six of those races. Regionals, OK Red, and MITCA. Coming back to the 800m, her time drop was especially important at State, receiving the stick in first, holding off a Rachel Forsyth who was sure to be bearing down on her.
Better.
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 