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2026 Rankings: Championship Season Girls

CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON IS HERE!

With an extra weekend of XC season, the calendar has appeared a bit different than the usual routine of past years. We’ve already had an Oakland County meet, Wayne County as well. Portage typically marks the end of the regular season, a Pre-Nationals of sort for the state. From now on, you’ll find schedules heavy on league, county, and area championships. Then of course, regionals and state.

Just a reminder, ratings are generated via:

  • The top 67% (rounding to the nearest whole number) performances of a runner
    • Runners with three or less rated races have all races counted
  • Those are then weighed on recency, meet size, and competitiveness of the meet

Those ratings are then compiled and scored as a hypothetical meet. Every runner that’s run a rated race from September 11th on is included.

Yes, athletic.net has simulations. These are different than athletic.net because:

  • They account for course conditions and distance
    • If you ran a shorter course, you’re likely to be overrated on there
    • If you ran only hilly, rough courses, you’re likely to be underrated on there
  • They take your best performance, I capture more of the resume

Mid-September Rankings
Late September Rankings

As always, these are for fun and a vehicle to drive interest in the best sport in the world. Enjoy

Mid-Season Moves

The Knights were already running well in 2026, ranked 12th coming into the week, projected to be the Region 36 champion. Then they saw the return of their top girl, Ella Lamb. Lamb had her season debut at the mid-week Austin Catholic/Cardinal Mooney Invite, running 20:55 to place 7th and help Shrine grab 2nd place in a field full of upper division teams.

The mid-season addition should help Shrine’s cause. In league action, the Knights were runner-up in the first jamboree, then captured the second one. The final comes in nine days, hopefully will a squad at full strength.

Individual Contenders

These past few weeks have given us many meets of significance, runners asserting themselves as contenders come the stretch run, many matchups between the standouts of each division. This has certainly been the case for D4 through D2.

For the D4 girls, this came at Portage, with all four of those that’ve separated themselves in attendance.

Libby Smith won the race, opening up an early gap and never looking back, capturing her first Portage win ever.

Kaylie Livingston succumbed to Smith, but that result doesn’t diminish another standout season where she’s run in the low-18’s for almost every meet in the past two weeks.

Veyda Conley turned in the fastest time of her career. She’s typically hovered around the 19-min. mark for much of the fall, but has shown the capability of getting after into the mid-18’s if needed.

Callie Sinke has competed in 7 major invites, breaking 19:00 in all but one of ‘em. She hasn’t had her breakout race yet, it’ll come, but she’s shown an amazing amount of consistency.

RankGradeNameTeamO11 RatingRegion
112Libby SmithGobles154.131
212Kaylie LivingstonWhitmore Lake152.933
312Veyda ConleyMartin144.731
411Callie SinkeOnekama143.929
59Faith SchipperHolland Calvary Christian138.531
610Norah KileyKingston134.335
711Sophie GrinageLeland129.129
89Grace JolinDansville121.633
912Evelyn MeyerHillsdale Academy121.434
1010Ryleigh AlderinkHolton120.431
1112Ava DeYoungGobles118.831
1212Lauren ShafferGobles118.231
139Madalyn StolzDansville115.833
1412Kiera PiperKalamazoo Hackett114.932
1511Malynda LambrosWhitmore Lake114.733
1612Lindsey NordykeByron Center Zion Christian113.731
1711Cassidy BowersAustin Catholic113.536
1810Faith SmithGenesee Christian112.933
1911Julia WhitePortland St. Patrick112.131
2011Taylor WillsMt. Pleasant Sacred Heart110.330
2111Ava BatesLutheran Westland109.736
2212Addy ZellerOnekama108.829
2310Ava HigleyFrankfort107.529
2412Veronica PagaPetoskey St. Michael107.428
259Amy WalkerClarkston Everest Collegiate107.333
2611Melodie HulinekBear Lake105.829
2711Maizy MatthewsBreckenridge105.430
2810Zakia WagonerOnekama104.729
2911Mea WesleyPetoskey St. Michael102.828
309Clara ThelenFowler102.731
3110Audrey PyleConcord102.234
3211Zoe FabingFowler101.431
3310Eliza RobertsHillsdale Academy101.234
3410Heather MorrisHillsdale Academy100.434
359Sophia MessingDeckerville98.935
369Gabby WeigoldBreckenridge98.830
3711Ella LambRoyal Oak Shrine98.436
3811Deirdre O’ConnellAllen Park Cabrini96.536
3911Lorelei StemmeHillsdale Academy96.334
4012Natalie BurpeeLeland96.229
4110Isabella WestMayville95.635
4212Madison SmithGrand Traverse Academy95.429
4311Anna HowellBridgman94.932
4411Andi KirkmanGenesee Christian94.733
459Kennedy GedenRoyal Oak Shrine94.236
4610Brooklyn GriffinBuckley93.629
4711Claire WrightDryden93.035
4812Tess HoedelGrand Traverse Academy92.929
4911Allison RodgersMartin92.531
509Norah TracyHillsdale Academy92.234

Mid-Season Moves

It’s been a fun few weeks for the Eagle crew. After an early season with smaller races and less competitive fields, Kent City has been able to let it rip in their past three races. First, at Allendale, KC was able to knock off three top-10 teams to win the Falcon division. This past weekend at Portage, the Eagles started out hot and stayed there, placing 5th in what was essentially a D3 State preview. And just yesterday, Kent City captured a CSAA White crown, totaling a tiny 17 points in their league championship.

A few of these Eagles have truly embraced the enhanced competition coming in October. Prime examples being Bayla Curtis and Shelby Zimmer. Curtis moved up masterfully in the final mile at Portage, gaining 14 places (48 to 34) en route to her first sub-21 ever. Zimmer cracked into the 19’s late last year and she’s there much earlier this time around, hitting 19:34 and 19:17 in consecutive weekends.

Individual Contenders

Over these past few weeks, Caelyn Torry has certainly asserted herself as a contender. She’s won close to home at Cadillac, further south at Shepherd, and even further south at Portage. Her frontrunnin’ style was on full display on the rolling Kalamazoo hills, where Torry led wire to wire in a D3 win. Chasing was defending champion Samantha Schroeder, who ran a course PR. Over the past few years, Schroeder has shown a tendency to greatly reduce time in the final month of the season, based on that, she’s in an excellent position.

Unlike D4, a few of the faster girls of the division were absent from the big west side race. Tiya Feldpausch was busy setting a personal best (18:11) at the Country Mill Classic. Violet Tetil had the weekend off, her Caro Tigers gearing up for championship season. Tetil may benefit from an adverse weather day, as her finest performance of the season came at Holly, an 18:51 win in the muck and mud.

RankGradeNameTeamO11 RatingRegion
111Caelyn TorryMcBain149.820
212Samantha SchroederJackson Lumen Christi149.523
311Tiya FeldpauschOlivet148.823
412Violet TetilCaro148.425
510Alaina CivinskasRoscommon147.519
611Josie BishopLansing Catholic143.826
712Alyssa KramerPewamo-Westphalia143.124
811Elliana MaxKent City140.921
99Isadora ShawLake City139.619
1011Avery KellyBenzie Central138.820
1110Lily BrittonOlivet137.823
1210Anna DrauerLansing Catholic137.426
1311Madisyn WansteadLeroy Pine River135.020
1411Maisey ToteffHanover-Horton134.923
1511Piper LyonRochester Hills Lutheran NW133.826
169Grace JordanChesaning131.924
179Merrick TacktorMason County Central131.520
1811Maggie McClellanBenzie Central131.020
1910Calista GeorgePewamo-Westphalia129.324
2011Lindsey LudwigLansing Catholic127.826
2111Shelby ZimmerKent City125.821
229Maggie MohrhardtTraverse City St. Francis125.819
2312Mikenna NagelSanford-Meridian124.825
2412Lyvia CurtisSaugatuck124.622
2512Leah SnellerMuskegon Western Michigan Christian123.521
2610Ellyse HeyserSaugatuck123.122
2712Makinna FoglesongIthaca122.424
2812Isabelle SliterFennville122.422
2912Shelby KuiperGrand Rapids Covenant Christian120.421
3012Natalie RosemaHart119.920
3111Lindsey CmeylaSaginaw Valley Lutheran119.325
329Aubrey DoanLake City118.419
339Hannah MuladoreCharlevoix118.219
3411Hattie DriverManistee118.020
3512Anna HallettBlissfield116.227
3612Kamryn SixberrySaugatuck116.022
3712Betsy GoodenManton116.020
3810Madelynn PattersonOlivet115.923
3910Lily SissonLeroy Pine River115.020
4012Molly Kate HollandsworthTraverse City St. Francis114.819
4111Emma KerrTraverse City St. Francis114.819
4210Katherine SchaferPewamo-Westphalia114.524
439Lilly KimbleJackson Lumen Christi113.523
4412Stefi ReskevicsHarbor Springs113.519
4511Elise RenkiewiczLake City113.219
469Avyrie OttenbacherMaple City Glen Lake111.920
4712Anna DeVriesGrand Rapids Covenant Christian111.521
489Elina GuffySaugatuck111.122
4910Ellery KemnerTraverse City St. Francis111.119
509Juliet SiemenHarbor Beach111.025

Mid-Season Moves

Youthful or experienced, it’s starting to come together for the Hornets. The second CAAC Red Jamboree a Tuesday ago saw many Williamston girls turn in their best efforts of the season. Sophia Schafer sure did, dropping wayyy into the 20’s for the first time all fall. Ella Bahle embraced the momentum emanating from her 19:54 at Stockbridge and turned it into a 19:36 PR. Add two standout performances to Annabel Buggia, who’s been racing at a high level all fall and you’ve got a squad that placed 2nd, 6 points behind Mason. For comparison, two weeks prior, the Hornets were nearly 30 pts. back.

Individual Contenders

More like D4, contrast to D3, a great bit of D2’s title contenders descended upon the west side for a MIS preview.

Four of the girls that’d separated a bit were present – Caroline Randall, Jaelyn Ray, Avery Engbers, and Natalya Hoffman. Meter by meter, mile by mile, what had started as a honest pace dwindled into a Caroline Randall runaway victory. Her 17:43 win built on the momentum accrued last week at Otsego and was a 45+ second course PR. The others will go back to the drawing board, but they’ll have plenty of confidence in their corner. Jaelyn Ray knows she can bring it at MHSAA events, Natalya Hoffman still owns the fastest time in D2, and Avery Engbers has the strength of her Maroon girls to back her up.

RankGradeNameTeamO11 RatingRegion
112Jaelyn RayPinckney163.916
212Caroline RandallHastings162.712
39Natalya HoffmanPlainwell159.813
411Avery EngbersHolland Christian159.411
512Ava SchaferSt. Johns158.114
610Eliza SchwassLudington156.210
79Clara CookDeWitt154.114
812Maddie LindleyHolly153.117
911Julia BambachHolly152.917
1011Oakley OsterhartCoopersville152.011
1112Mia MaySparta150.611
1211Kayla ShellenbargerGoodrich149.415
1310Breslyn KleinCoopersville149.311
1412Ayda SkeelsAdrian148.118
1512Addison JosephsonLinden147.814
1612Ella McInerneyCadillac146.710
1712Olivia WeissHolland145.311
1811Mai NguyenPlainwell145.013
1912Eliana StobHolland Christian145.011
209Evelyn GoosenSpring Lake144.610
2111Tiffany DeMaagdGrand Rapids South Christian144.312
2211Courtney FloeterLinden144.314
2311Remie EllisEaton Rapids144.014
2412Ellery LampenHolland Christian142.411
2511Madison PettyAdrian142.218
269Annabel BuggiaWilliamston142.214
2710Alayna VerhageOtsego141.113
2812Alivia OttingerGoodrich140.115
2912Clara KaczorFreeland139.815
3011Grace LemanEdwardsburg139.113
3110Lydia DwyerStevensville Lakeshore138.413
3210Addelyn SabatkeOtsego136.813
3310Lily VanEykGrand Rapids South Christian136.212
3411Anneliese PasschierEast Grand Rapids135.412
359Molly WhiteHolland Christian135.211
3612Annabelle LowmanLudington134.310
3712Sawyer ReaganAllendale134.111
3810Adelyn VerhageOtsego132.813
3912Zoe GermanFruitport132.510
409Emi CrewsMiddleville Thornapple-Kellogg132.112
4112Lucy ConzelmannFrankenmuth130.515
4211Addison BixlerCoopersville130.511
4312Zoe HoekstraGrand Rapids Christian130.412
4412Skylar MejeurOtsego130.013
4511Natalie HayesDeWitt129.814
4610Addisyn WoodSparta129.511
4711Maya HammoudDetroit Country Day128.616
489Anna ZietlowHolland Christian128.311
4912Lillian DeweyHopkins128.312
509Addison AndressOtsego128.013

Mid-Season Moves

Romeo and Utica

The MAC Red brings championship racing to early October and with high stakes racin’ came moves up the ranks. In recent memory, Romeo has almost always been victorious here and they were again, though last Tuesday’s result was fairly close. The Bulldogs pulled through with clutch performances from Faith Wessel (2nd fastest time ever) and Madeline Marchwinski (nearly two min. faster than she was last year in this same meet). Utica made it tough, with Codianne Palczewski moving up two spots from the first MAC Red Jamboree to place 8th, her 3rd consecutive sub-20.

What’s great about the Macomb County schedule is the back-to-back immediacy of it all, as these two outfits will be going at it again this weekend for a county crown.

Individual Contenders

The three top-ranked Ann Arbor Pioneer girls of Natasza Dudek, Keira Von Blon, and Sienna Klemmer got me thinking – has any school placed girls 1-2-3 at the State Finals? Searching through the archives of Finals races from ’97 onward (when individual and team races were combined), the answer seems to be NO.

There are a few examples of girls going 2-3-4 (2021 Hart and 1998 Rockford), but no 1-2-3. There have been three instances of teams going 1-2 (2014 Seaholm, 2000 Ogemaw Heights, 2000 Rochester Adams).

We don’t want to get ahead of ourselves, but history *could* be on the table.

RankGradeNameTeamO11 RatingRegion
111Natasza DudekAnn Arbor Pioneer188.25
210Keira Von BlonAnn Arbor Pioneer179.95
311Sienna KlemmerAnn Arbor Pioneer177.25
410Alexandra ScappaticciNorthville174.07
511Adalyn RaabZeeland East170.13
611Rachel SmithOkemos166.44
712Lucia LachapelleNorthville161.97
810Grace SnyderHudsonville161.51
911Ainsley KelmPortage Northern160.83
1012Daisy CoxRockford159.71
1111Emilia GarcesMidland Dow159.32
1211Paige RohdaBerkley159.27
1312Tessa MascariTraverse City West158.92
1411Alannah WesselRomeo157.49
1511Gabriella MercierMacomb Dakota156.79
1611Savannah StatonSaline156.55
1711Charlotte JonesRochester155.29
1810Brynn SomersNorthville154.47
1912Chloe PurwinHudsonville152.51
2011Avery ScottPortage Central152.43
2111Charley McKayBrownstown Woodhaven152.25
2212Katarina MunsonSaline151.25
2312Reese RosboltRomeo150.79
2412Kodie SnyderDexter149.44
2511Alexandra GreenBirmingham Seaholm149.17
2612Anyla RobinsonOak Park149.07
2710Giada MillsBeverly Hills Groves148.77
2810Kaitlyn BergMidland148.32
2912Paige McMeansJenison147.31
3010Lexie SnyderHudsonville147.31
3110Jessica SoldanRochester Adams146.79
3212Isla TharpAnn Arbor Skyline146.56
3310Grace MeyersBay City Western146.32
3410Claire LawrenceBloomfield Hills146.37
359Brooklyn ThomasmaEast Kentwood145.61
3611Ella LorenzBrighton145.44
379Claire CubittUtica145.38
3811Lucia LlanesAnn Arbor Skyline144.16
3911Jillian LewakowskiRockford143.21
4012Becca Van LentAnn Arbor Skyline142.46
4112Abigail DobryDexter142.14
4212Lizzie WernimontAnn Arbor Pioneer141.65
439Harper HendersonJenison141.21
4412Morgan ScallyWhite Lake Lakeland140.48
4512Lane IsomRichland Gull Lake140.33
4610Gwyn FaberForest Hills Northern140.11
4711Lila EdisonAnn Arbor Skyline139.96
4812El McMahanRochester Adams139.79
4912Nina MooreAnn Arbor Pioneer139.55
5010Eleanor PilsnerGrosse Pointe South139.16

DivisionRankTeamScore
11Marquette43
12Sault Ste. Marie51
13Negaunee89
14Houghton92
15Kingsford145
16Calumet164
17Menominee187
18Escanaba191

DivisionRankTeamScore
21Munising39
22Rudyard58
23Painesdale-Jeffers71
24Newberry98
25Brimley113

DivisionRankTeamScore
31L’Anse50
32Rapid River82
33Ewen-Trout Creek92
34Superior Central93
35Forest Park116
36St. Ignace128
37Engadine134

Individual Contenders

Opposed to the boys’ side of things north of the bridge, the girls might actually have more competitive races.

A close race between two rivals comes in D1, where Asia Jones and Charlotte Jones have staked out claims as the top girl in the division. On two separate sides of the peninsula, the two haven’t faced off against one another, but they do have similar accolades. Each have earned sub-20’s twice. Charlotte’s 19:18 from Portage is the fastest, but Asia’s 19:57 from Holly may be the most impressive.

A close race between teammates is likely the case in D2, as Abby Taylor and Molly McNamara, both of Newberry, were separated by a mere 8 sec. at Bluejay. The pairing have season bests a minute clear of 3rd, and are no stranger to running in close proximity in championship settings, having placed 3rd and 4th in D3 last year.

D3 itself appears to be a bit less pressure-packed, but if one delves deeper, they may find a reason for another competitive situation One girl has broken 20:00 thus far in the fall, freshman Edye Burnett ripping a 19:32 at the Great Eskymos Chase. Trailing her with the 2nd fastest time in the division is Bree Besonen, who still stands north of 20-flat. Though in the most recent matchup between the two, Besonen sat a close 6 seconds back.

RankGradeNameTeamO11 RatingDivision
111Asia JonesSault Ste. Marie128.01
29Charlotte JonesMarquette124.51
310Emma ZieglerMarquette117.71
411Maria MurvichKingsford117.01
59Julia PlaxcoNegaunee115.11
611Holly CookeHoughton114.31
712Keira WatermanNegaunee99.11
810Ava CantwayMarquette97.91
910Cora GouletSault Ste. Marie97.01
1011Isabeau WoodardSault Ste. Marie95.01
1112Winley BrandtMenominee93.21
129Emma JukuriHoughton91.51
1311Evelyn GrantMarquette86.21
1412Norah WoodruffHoughton84.91
1512Regan SporteSault Ste. Marie84.31

RankGradeNameTeamO11 RatingDivision
112Abby TaylorNewberry127.52
210Molly McNamaraNewberry118.52
39Emma ConklinMunising103.02
410Melissa KirschnerRudyard90.22
511Alena PietilaHancock89.32
610Ashlyn MitchellRudyard81.62
711Addie BowermanMunising78.32
811Remi CoponenPainesdale-Jeffers75.62
99Colleen RiceRudyard74.52
109Siri JacobsonWakefield-Marenisco/Bessemer74.42
119Edon KiddMunising58.42
129Natalie BrockMunising51.52
1311Maya WeissMunising51.42
1411Zoey KiddMunising49.12
1511Karissa RautiolaPainesdale-Jeffers41.82

RankGradeNameTeamO11 RatingDivision
19Edye BurdettSuperior Central117.13
211Bree BesonenEwen-Trout Creek107.93
310Evonna LaCosseRapid River94.63
410Sarah ChapmanEngadine77.93
59Ellie ZaupaForest Park73.53
610Sophie MahoskiIshpeming70.73
711Lily FroeseL’Anse70.43
811Kwynn VoskuhlL’Anse70.13
910Autumn BroomfieldWatersmeet Township66.33
109Paget HinnenCedarville63.73
119Lily HalkolaDollar Bay58.93
1211Kendra PedersonSuperior Central58.33
1310Julia PomaRapid River57.63
1411AJ FeleppaSt. Ignace56.33
1511Princess PierreL’Anse53.23

Homeschool athletes, the “official” rankings might not include you, but I’ve got you covered! Even with your championship coming the weekend of regionals, I’ll still have projections for that day. And word on the street is I might even be there…

RankGradeNameTeamO11 Rating
112Gianna ChaignotGRTC Peregrines156.3
29Marielle ChaignotGRTC Peregrines152.3
312Stephanie DiPiazzaGRTC Peregrines150.2
410Hailey SielerGRTC Peregrines134.5
510Elise BarberGRTC Peregrines132.1
610Eve WebbGRTC Peregrines129.0
79Aria KoertWest Michigan Homeschool123.9
812Ava SkinnerGRTC Peregrines115.7
912Elyana DavisKalamazoo Homeschool Sports102.4
1010Ava GrosseWest Michigan Homeschool98.8
1112Belle RichardsonKalamazoo Homeschool Sports94.1
129Ellery NovakoskiWest Michigan Homeschool88.4
1310Elsie WoldhuisKalamazoo Homeschool Sports85.8
1412Maria BanaskyKalamazoo Homeschool Sports82.8
1511Gracie HibmaKalamazoo Homeschool Sports82.2