It’s baaack. A summertime tradition has returned, the 50 Tickets to Brooklyn. These lists celebrate the top 50 returners – based on a concoction of the ’25 XC season, projected improvements, the ’26 Track season, and a tiny bit of my own input.
Enjoy!
Many of these photos are sourced from either MLive or Miles Postema. Any others will find credit in the caption.
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 10 | Emilia Garces | 17:17.9 | Midland Dow | 168.7 | MITCA | 8-Nov | 2025 |
| 10 | Emilia Garces | 17:23.3 | Midland Dow | 165.2 | D1 State Finals | 1-Nov | 2025 |
| 10 | Emilia Garces | 17:28.5 | Midland Dow | 162.8 | Region 2 | 25-Oct | 2025 |
| 10 | Emilia Garces | 17:44.6 | Midland Dow | 159.1 | SVL Championship | 15-Oct | 2025 |
| 10 | Emilia Garces | 17:42.5 | Midland Dow | 160.8 | Oiler Blue & Gold | 11-Oct | 2025 |
| 10 | Emilia Garces | 18:18.0 | Midland Dow | 153.3 | Heritage | 4-Oct | 2025 |
| 10 | Emilia Garces | 17:33.9 | Midland Dow | 170.4 | Bluejay | 27-Sep | 2025 |
| 10 | Emilia Garces | 17:43.1 | Midland Dow | 161.3 | VSV | 20-Sep | 2025 |
| 10 | Emilia Garces | 18:12.4 | Midland Dow | 162.9 | Holly | 13-Sep | 2025 |
| 10 | Emilia Garces | 17:44.9 | Midland Dow | 166.0 | Northwood | 6-Sep | 2025 |
| 10 | Emilia Garces | 17:56.4 | Midland Dow | 156.2 | Oiler | 29-Aug | 2025 |
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 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 |
Personal Records
5k (XC) – 17:18
1600m – 4:57
3200m – 10:31
Accolades
XC
4th Place – Division 1 State
2x All-State
Region 2 Champion
SVL Champion
Track
15th Place – Division 1 State 3200m
11th Place – Division 1 State 4×8
SVL 1600m/3200m Champion
Her Championship Season
Was one of, if not the best stretch of running and racing in her career. That’s a bold statement, considering to that point, Emilia had been well accomplished. She was coming off a freshman season that featured an 8th place finish in Division 1 and many sub-18’s, going as low as 17:28 at the close. Garces had just finished September with a 17:33 at Bluejay, over 15 sec. faster than she’d run in 2024.
But now it came time to win. The second run at Dow’s regional site produced another victory at the Oiler Blue & Gold Invite. The next victory came at the SVL Championships, keeping league titles in Garces’ grasps. Then came the times. Her third effort at Mt. Pleasant produced her fastest time on the course, a 17:28 that won Region 2. Under the pressure-packed MIS environment, another drop down to 17:23. Finally, extending down even further with a 17:18 at MITCA.
In just about two months’ time, another opportunity awaits for Emilia to excel at season’s end.
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 