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: Emilia Garces
School: Midland Dow
Grade: 10th
Personal Records
5k (XC) – 17:28
1600m – 5:04
3200m – 10:44
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 9 | Emilia Garces | 17:28.8 | Midland Dow | 164.4 | MITCA | 9-Nov | 2024 |
| 9 | Emilia Garces | 17:42.6 | Midland Dow | 159.5 | Division 1 State | 2-Nov | 2024 |
| 9 | Emilia Garces | 17:36.3 | Midland Dow | 162.2 | Region 2 | 25-Oct | 2024 |
| 9 | Emilia Garces | 17:53.0 | Midland Dow | 154.0 | SVL Championship | 16-Oct | 2024 |
| 9 | Emilia Garces | 18:22.2 | Midland Dow | 140.6 | Heritage Hawks | 5-Oct | 2024 |
| 9 | Emilia Garces | 17:49.8 | Midland Dow | 163.1 | Bluejay | 28-Sep | 2024 |
| 9 | Emilia Garces | 18:43.0 | Midland Dow | 141.0 | VSV | 21-Sep | 2024 |
| 9 | Emilia Garces | 18:51.6 | Midland Dow | 152.8 | Holly | 14-Sep | 2024 |
| 9 | Emilia Garces | 18:57.1 | Midland Dow | 149.3 | SVL North 1 | 10-Sep | 2024 |
| 9 | Emilia Garces | 17:57.2 | Midland Dow | 161.3 | Northwood | 7-Sep | 2024 |
| 9 | Emilia Garces | 18:30.7 | Midland Dow | 156.8 | Oiler | 30-Aug | 2024 |
| 9 | Emilia Garces | 18:23.0 | Midland Dow | 159.3 | Under the Lights | 23-Aug | 2024 |
Accolades
XC
8th Place – 2024 Division 1 State
2nd Place – 2024 Region 2 & SVL Championship
Track
11th Place – 2025 Division 1 State 3200m
2025 Region 1 3200m Champion
2nd Place – SVL Championship 3200m
2025 MITS DMR Champion
Her Breakout Race
As she’d already run fast early, it’s tough to pick ONE race that impacted the rest of her season. Though I commonly think the Shepherd/Portage weekends are a great time period to set up a championship season. The weather has cooled, the courses haven’t been too wrecked, and competition is at a premium. While Emilia had already made the most of a few opportunities early (sub-18 at Northwood, a quick debut at Under the Lights), this was the chance to let it all rip. And in a setting against Michigan’s best, she did just that – a shiny new 17:49 personal best.
Look afterward and see what transpired. More 17:xx’s, high finishes in the SVL and Region 2. And the November closers – a personal best at MITCA, a top-10 finish at MIS.
We’re blessed with more Garces for years to come.
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 
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