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: Rachel Smith
School: Okemos
Grade: 10th
Personal Records
5k (XC) – 17:39
1600m – 5:00
3200m – 10:32
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 9 | Rachel Smith | 17:44.4 | Okemos | 159.2 | MITCA | 9-Nov | 2024 |
| 9 | Rachel Smith | 17:46.7 | Okemos | 158.1 | Division 1 State | 2-Nov | 2024 |
| 9 | Rachel Smith | 17:50.8 | Okemos | 157.4 | Region 2 | 25-Oct | 2024 |
| 9 | Rachel Smith | 18:22.8 | Okemos | 152.7 | CAAC Blue 2 | 17-Oct | 2024 |
| 9 | Rachel Smith | 17:40.3 | Okemos | 163.6 | Greater Lansing | 12-Oct | 2024 |
| 9 | Rachel Smith | 17:39.5 | Okemos | 166.5 | Bluejay | 28-Sep | 2024 |
| 9 | Rachel Smith | 18:57.1 | Okemos | 137.3 | CAAC Blue 1 | 19-Sep | 2024 |
| 9 | Rachel Smith | 18:11.4 | Okemos | 166.5 | Spartan | 13-Sep | 2024 |
| 9 | Rachel Smith | 18:50.6 | Okemos | 149.5 | Bath | 7-Sep | 2024 |
Accolades
XC
10th Place – 2024 Division 1 State
2025 CAAC Blue Champion
2nd Place – 2024 Greater Lansing
3rd Place – 2024 Region 2
Track
6th Place – 2025 Division 1 State 3200m
2nd Place – 2025 New Balance Freshman 2 Mile
CAAC Blue & Region 4 1600m & 3200m Champion
Her Breakout Race
Take a look at the chart and let me know if you notice a stark change at one point in time.
Early on in the year, that was Rachel’s adjustment period. She hadn’t run XC in middle school, thus racing on grass had to be a bit of learning curve. Her races during 8th grade track showed potential, but nothing even to the degree she showed early. Her first 5k on the grass was at Bath, a good course for an introduction and to build a bit of confidence. Her 18:57 was a quality beginning, and led the way to a few more 18 min. efforts.
You know what’s also a good place? Shepherd, especially in late September, when the weather’s cooling and the athletes are deep in their training. By god, it was especially good for Rachel, because those 18’s didn’t just become a minor dip into the 17’s, they became a 17:39. A 30+ second personal best. A minute range that she’d spend the majority of the rest of the season. Runner-up to Victoria Garces, Smith beat out a couple state champions from other divisions and many of Michigan’s best.
From then on – 17:40, 17:50, 17:46, 17:44. A runner-up at Greater Lansing, a win in the CAAC Blue, 3rd in her region, then 10th in all of Division 1.
The Wolves return to Shepherd on September 27th.
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 