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 |
| 11 | El McMahan | 17:24.3 | Rochester Adams | 164.9 | D1 State Finals | 1-Nov | 2025 |
| 11 | El McMahan | 17:40.4 | Rochester Adams | 158.9 | Region 8 | 24-Oct | 2025 |
| 11 | El McMahan | 18:10.7 | Rochester Adams | 153.4 | OAA Red Championship | 16-Oct | 2025 |
| 11 | El McMahan | 18:24.0 | Rochester Adams | 166.0 | Oakland County | 4-Oct | 2025 |
| 11 | El McMahan | 17:35.9 | Rochester Adams | 162.4 | Brooks Mid-Season | 19-Sep | 2025 |
| 11 | El McMahan | 17:55.6 | Rochester Adams | 168.5 | Holly | 13-Sep | 2025 |
| 11 | El McMahan | 18:43.9 | Rochester Adams | 150.0 | OAA Red 1 | 10-Sep | 2025 |
| 11 | El McMahan | 18:27.0 | Rochester Adams | 159.7 | Averill | 6-Sep | 2025 |
| 11 | El McMahan | 18:02.5 | Rochester Adams | 165.2 | Budd Cicciarelli | 28-Aug | 2025 |
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 10 | El McMahan | 18:50.4 | Rochester Adams | 136.9 | Division 1 State | 2-Nov | 2024 |
| 10 | El McMahan | 18:27.0 | Rochester Adams | 142.3 | Region 8 | 25-Oct | 2024 |
| 10 | El McMahan | 18:38.2 | Rochester Adams | 137.9 | OAA Red 3 | 17-Oct | 2024 |
| 10 | El McMahan | 19:47.2 | Rochester Adams | 133.9 | Oakland County | 5-Oct | 2024 |
| 10 | El McMahan | 20:28.5 | Rochester Adams | 109.2 | Hansons | 28-Sep | 2024 |
| 10 | El McMahan | 19:25.7 | Rochester Adams | 127.4 | Brooks Mid-Season Spectacular | 21-Sep | 2024 |
| 10 | El McMahan | 19:16.1 | Rochester Adams | 144.6 | Holly | 14-Sep | 2024 |
| 10 | El McMahan | 21:23.4 | Rochester Adams | 99.2 | OAA Red 1 | 11-Sep | 2024 |
| 10 | El McMahan | 19:36.6 | Rochester Adams | 141.8 | Averill | 7-Sep | 2024 |
| 10 | El McMahan | 19:42.6 | Rochester Adams | 133.1 | Budd Cicciarelli | 29-Aug | 2024 |
| Grade | Name | Time | Team | Rating | Meet | Date | Year |
| 9 | El McMahan | 20:02.1 | Rochester Adams | 114.0 | Division 1 State | 4-Nov | 2023 |
| 9 | El McMahan | 19:54.9 | Rochester Adams | 118.4 | Region 8 | 27-Oct | 2023 |
| 9 | El McMahan | 19:36.6 | Rochester Adams | 120.8 | OAA Red Championship | 19-Oct | 2023 |
| 9 | El McMahan | 21:00.2 | Rochester Adams | 108.3 | Oakland County | 7-Oct | 2023 |
| 9 | El McMahan | 21:14.5 | Rochester Adams | 103.8 | Mott Fall Classic | 22-Sep | 2023 |
| 9 | El McMahan | 20:54.6 | Rochester Adams | 107.5 | Holly | 16-Sep | 2023 |
| 9 | El McMahan | 21:00.0 | Rochester Adams | 113.7 | Averill | 9-Sep | 2023 |
| 9 | El McMahan | 20:28.9 | Rochester Adams | 114.0 | Budd Cicciarelli | 31-Aug | 2023 |
Personal Records
5k (XC) – 17:24
800m – 2:13
Mile (Road) – 4:43
3200m – 10:26
5k (Track) – 16:56
Accolades
XC
5th Place – Division 1 State
Region 8 Champion
OAA Red Champion
Oakland County Champion
Track
2nd Place – Division 1 State 1600m
2x All-State
3rd Place – MITS/MITCA Indoor State 1600m
7th Place – MITS/MITCA Indoor State 3200m
6th Place – MITS/MITCA Indoor State 4×4
You Know I Dig Improvement
Freshman: 112.5 ~ 20:20
Sophomore: 134.1 ~ 19:15
Junior: 161.0 ~ 18:00
These are a rough average of El’s ratings over the past three years and their equivalent times. This isn’t a knock on any of the girls listed or yet to come, but she (and a few others) are really unlike many girls out there, beginning their career well outside the elite level and jamming their way into the scene.
Half-marathon long runs as a freshman. 60 mile weeks as a sophomore. 70 mile weeks as a junior. 80 miles a week this summer. She’s put herself out there too, taking in the criticism from runners and coaches proclaiming that miles upon miles isn’t a healthy formula. And she’s come out the other side with ample evidence that they have worked for her.
Not just in cross, where the improvement is evident (14th at her REGIONAL as a freshman to 5th in the STATE as a junior). She’s moved from a 11:36 3200m as a freshman to 10:36 this past spring. 5:09 in the 1600m to 4:43 (downhill on the road, but still). She’s a force, pushing her body in training, shattering through barriers with a mind hellbent on improvement.
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 