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: Luka Hammond
School: Grand Haven
Grade: 11th
Personal Records
5k (XC) – 15:19
800m – 1:55
1600m – 4:09
3200m – 9:16
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 10 | Luka Hammond | 15:42.1 | Grand Haven | 200.6 | MITCA | 9-Nov | 2024 |
| 10 | Luka Hammond | 15:19.9 | Grand Haven | 207.4 | Division 1 State | 2-Nov | 2024 |
| 10 | Luka Hammond | 15:54.8 | Grand Haven | 195.7 | Region 1 | 26-Oct | 2024 |
| 10 | Luka Hammond | 15:55.6 | Grand Haven | 195.1 | OK Red Championship | 17-Oct | 2024 |
| 10 | Luka Hammond | 15:37.6 | Grand Haven | 205.5 | Portage | 5-Oct | 2024 |
| 10 | Luka Hammond | 15:43.1 | Grand Haven | 202.0 | Allendale Falcon | 28-Sep | 2024 |
| 10 | Luka Hammond | 16:36.8 | Grand Haven | 200.4 | OK Red 2 | 25-Sep | 2024 |
| 10 | Luka Hammond | 16:06.1 | Grand Haven | 206.6 | Spartan | 13-Sep | 2024 |
| 10 | Luka Hammond | 16:05.0 | Grand Haven | 206.7 | OK Red 1 | 10-Sep | 2024 |
| 10 | Luka Hammond | 16:01.5 | Grand Haven | 200.5 | Under the Lights v2 | 23-Aug | 2024 |
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 9 | Luka Hammond | 16:04.3 | Grand Haven | 191.6 | MITCA | 11-Nov | 2023 |
| 9 | Luka Hammond | 15:58.7 | Grand Haven | 194.8 | Division 1 State | 4-Nov | 2023 |
| 9 | Luka Hammond | 16:16.2 | Grand Haven | 188.3 | Region 1 | 28-Oct | 2023 |
| 9 | Luka Hammond | 16:08.2 | Grand Haven | 190.9 | OK Red Conference | 19-Oct | 2023 |
| 9 | Luka Hammond | 16:01.9 | Grand Haven | 196.4 | Portage | 7-Oct | 2023 |
| 9 | Luka Hammond | 16:16.4 | Grand Haven | 191.2 | Allendale Falcon | 30-Sep | 2023 |
| 9 | Luka Hammond | 16:20.1 | Grand Haven | 196.0 | Spartan | 15-Sep | 2023 |
| 9 | Luka Hammond | 16:39.2 | Grand Haven | 189.3 | Bredeweg | 9-Sep | 2023 |
| 9 | Luka Hammond | 16:29.9 | Grand Haven | 193.4 | Under the Lights v2 | 25-Aug | 2023 |
Accolades
XC
5th Place – 2024 Division 1 State
2nd Place – 2024 OK Red Championship
5th Place – 2024 Region 1
Track
2025 Division 1 State 1600m Champion
8th Place – 2025 Division 1 State 4×8
3x All-State
13th Place – 2025 Division 1 State 800m
2025 OK Red 1600m Champion
His Specialty
It’s gotta be the mile, right? Don’t get it twisted, Luka has had an exceptional start to his career on the cross course, and that is a major reason he’s listed here so high. 5th at this past fall’s State Finals. Numerous sub-16 efforts, as low as 15:19 in early November. Top finishes at Portage and in the OK Red.
A member of the outstanding ’27 class, Hammond stood out early as one of the better milers. During his freshman campaign, he’d qualified for State, finished highly in the distance-heavy OK Red, and laid down the 3rd fastest 1600m time of any freshman in Michigan.
Immediate improvement occurred early in his sophomore spring, where Luka raced to a 4:14 during the first great opportunity at the Ram Classic. A week later, sticking it out after the rain in Romeo, he claimed first among the state’s best with a 4:12. A month later, another personal best at Distance Night.
Then the best conclusion, a win in a drag race at State. Three west siders led at various points in the contest. Jackson Lam for the first kilometer, Caden Livermore and Hammond desperately trying to stay connected as Lam sped past 800m in 2:05. Luka gained and then held the lead from a kilometer to the bell, where Livermore made his bid. A gap opened and it was gut check time for Luka, be content with 2nd or hang until you can give one final surge. After choosing the latter, Hammond opened up his stride and gritted out a victory in the final meters.
He’s a miler. He’s also a damn good XC runner.
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 