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: Ava Schafer
School: St. Johns
Grade: 11th
Personal Records
5k (XC) – 17:05
800m – 2:19
1600m – 4:57
3200m – 10:39
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 10 | Ava Schafer | 17:05.3 | St. Johns | 172.2 | MITCA | 9-Nov | 2024 |
| 10 | Ava Schafer | 17:20.7 | St. Johns | 166.8 | Division 2 State | 2-Nov | 2024 |
| 10 | Ava Schafer | 18:03.8 | St. Johns | 153.4 | Region 14 | 25-Oct | 2024 |
| 10 | Ava Schafer | 18:16.2 | St. Johns | 151.3 | CAAC Red 3 | 17-Oct | 2024 |
| 10 | Ava Schafer | 17:32.4 | St. Johns | 166.2 | Greater Lansing | 12-Oct | 2024 |
| 10 | Ava Schafer | 17:45.8 | St. Johns | 162.1 | DeWitt | 28-Sep | 2024 |
| 10 | Ava Schafer | 17:47.5 | St. Johns | 164.8 | Ottawa Hills | 13-Sep | 2024 |
| 10 | Ava Schafer | 17:56.9 | St. Johns | 163.7 | Marauder | 4-Sep | 2024 |
| 10 | Ava Schafer | 18:10.5 | St. Johns | 163.5 | Under the Lights | 23-Aug | 2024 |
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 9 | Ava Schafer | 17:32.6 | St. Johns | 161.1 | MITCA | 11-Nov | 2023 |
| 9 | Ava Schafer | 17:53.8 | St. Johns | 156.4 | Division 2 State | 4-Nov | 2023 |
| 9 | Ava Schafer | 18:28.6 | St. Johns | 154.1 | Region 14 | 27-Oct | 2023 |
| 9 | Ava Schafer | 18:20.2 | St. Johns | 147.3 | CAAC Red 3 | 19-Oct | 2023 |
| 9 | Ava Schafer | 18:32.5 | St. Johns | 152.5 | Greater Lansing | 14-Oct | 2023 |
| 9 | Ava Schafer | 17:54.4 | St. Johns | 157.2 | Bluejay | 30-Sep | 2023 |
| 9 | Ava Schafer | 18:33.4 | St. Johns | 150.5 | Bath | 9-Sep | 2023 |
| 9 | Ava Schafer | 18:50.2 | St. Johns | 150.6 | Corunna Early Bird | 29-Aug | 2023 |
| 9 | Ava Schafer | 18:16.0 | St. Johns | 160.7 | Under the Lights | 18-Aug | 2023 |
Accolades
XC
2024 Division 2 State Champion
4th Place – 2024 Division 2 State
2023 & 2024 Greater Lansing, CAAC Red, & Region 14 Champion
Track
2024 Division 2 3200m Champion
2025 CAAC Red & Greater Lansing 1600m & 3200m Champion
6th Place – 2025 MITS 3200m
Her Championship Season
Was a season where it continued to come together, perhaps to the highest peak of her career thus far.
Ava entered high school with high expectations, and as a freshman, she more than lived up to those lofty goals. A patient race at the ’23 State XC Finals led to many runners getting passed during the later stages of the race, Schafer ending up in 4th. A similarly even-paced race led to a track state title in the 3200m.
Coming into the fall, the thought was that she’d be a D2 contender or favorite, a role she embraced early, late, and often. Prior to October, she was unbeaten, racing to wins at DeWitt and Ottawa Hills. Past October 1st, more wins and more personal bests. She repeated at Greater Lansing, the CAAC Red, and in Region 14. She embarked upon a similar race strategy at State (5:31, 5:40, 5:34, 35) and at MITCA (5:24, 5:31, 5:33 pace), metronomicly pouring on the pac, winning titles at each.
We’re blessed to be the witness for two more years of high-level performances.
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 