A summer tradition returns.
Hard to fathom that I’ve been penning these Summer Previews for now, 7 years. Just as in the past, I’ll have the 50 best returners, then as time rolls on, the Regional Previews and Top Ten Teams.
Differing from the past is the format. Individual posts for each region and ticket are a TON OF WORK. Instead, I’ll be knocking off the 50 Tickets with sets of 10 and Regional Previews by their division and gender. Hopefully with these methods, I’ll be finishing on time and actually spending effort detailing what could be some great regional battles.
Anyhow, starting with the girls (they run first this year), your 50 Tickets to Brooklyn. These celebrate our top-50 returners – based on the 2024 XC season, 2025 track season, projected improvement, and a tiny bit of my own opinions.
Enjoy!
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
(Also, first time ever that I’ve included Upper Peninsula folks in these! I know they’re not running at MIS, but they’re still representatives of Michigan)
Name: Gabe Litzner
School: Sault Ste. Marie
Grade: 12th
Personal Records
5k (XC) – 15:14
1600m – 4:18
3200m – 9:10
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 11 | Gabe Litzner | 15:14.1 | Sault Ste. Marie | 210.0 | MITCA | 9-Nov | 2024 |
| 11 | Gabe Litzner | 15:14.4 | Sault Ste. Marie | 205.2 | UP Division 1 State | 19-Oct | 2024 |
| 11 | Gabe Litzner | 15:26.7 | Sault Ste. Marie | 209.1 | Portage | 5-Oct | 2024 |
| 11 | Gabe Litzner | 16:24.8 | Sault Ste. Marie | 188.4 | Harbor Springs | 1-Oct | 2024 |
| 11 | Gabe Litzner | 16:03.4 | Sault Ste. Marie | 205.9 | SSM Elks | 28-Sep | 2024 |
| 11 | Gabe Litzner | 15:41.7 | Sault Ste. Marie | 204.1 | Jackson | 21-Sep | 2024 |
| 11 | Gabe Litzner | 15:34.8 | Sault Ste. Marie | 218.7 | Holly | 14-Sep | 2024 |
| 11 | Gabe Litzner | 17:23.9 | Sault Ste. Marie | 169.7 | Manistique Emeralds | 11-Sep | 2024 |
| 11 | Gabe Litzner | 15:26.7 | Sault Ste. Marie | 211.1 | Party in the Park | 28-Aug | 2024 |
| 11 | Gabe Litzner | 15:47.5 | Sault Ste. Marie | 209.2 | Birch Run Early | 22-Aug | 2024 |
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 10 | Gabe Litzner | 15:28.6 | Sault Ste. Marie | 203.5 | MITCA | 11-Nov | 2023 |
| 10 | Gabe Litzner | 15:53.5 | Sault Ste. Marie | 199.2 | Jackson | 23-Sep | 2023 |
| 10 | Gabe Litzner | 16:04.8 | Sault Ste. Marie | 204.1 | Holly | 16-Sep | 2023 |
| 10 | Gabe Litzner | 15:59.1 | Sault Ste. Marie | 198.3 | Northwood | 9-Sep | 2023 |
| 10 | Gabe Litzner | 15:44.0 | Sault Ste. Marie | 199.0 | Red Devil | 30-Aug | 2023 |
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 9 | Gabe Litzner | 16:44.4 | Sault Ste. Marie | 180.9 | Jackson | 24-Sep | 2022 |
| 9 | Gabe Litzner | 16:50.0 | Sault Ste. Marie | 187.7 | Holly | 17-Sep | 2022 |
| 9 | Gabe Litzner | 16:55.3 | Sault Ste. Marie | 188.2 | Birch Run Early | 25-Aug | 2022 |
Accolades
XC
3x UP Division 1 State Champion
4th Place – 2024 MITCA Meet of Champions
Track
2024 & 2025 UP Division 1 State 3200m Champion
7x All-State
2nd Place – 2025 MITS 1600m
4th Place – 2025 MITS DMR
His Championship Season
Back in 2024 was something special, a true test of adversity.
From this feature on the Bear Den podcast, I’ll let Gabe spin his tale. As runners, we can empathize with many other struggles. The heavy legs, the feeling of training when the world is sleeping, heading out the door in the freezing rain. But I don’t think many can share the experience of being in a serious car accident.
What I also cannot relate to is how fast he returned to his previous form. The previous fall, Gabe had won his second consecutive UP Division 1 title, racing into the mid-15’s by season’s end. Clearly, not just an ordinary champion, but one that was one of the better sophomores in the entire state. Commencing his season in May, Litzner had approximately a month to prepare for the UP Finals. He opened with a 4:43 in the 1600m and for his first real opportunity to run fast in the 3200m, a 9:59. Very good, but in this new age of UP endurance, maybe not championship worthy. With only a month of training under his belt, those times were slashed down to 4:27 and 9:35, good for 2nd in the 1600m and the win in the 3200m.
Since then, Litzner has racked up another cross country and 3200m crown.
I’m sure there was a bit of talent involved with the spring of ’24. Likely much more heart.
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 