Author: mixcspeedratings

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2026’s 50 Tickets to Brooklyn: Boys #8

mixcspeedratings

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!

2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020

Many of these photos are sourced from either MLive or Miles Postema. Any others will find credit in the caption.

GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
11Ezekiel Baltierra15:20.3Alma207.6MITCA8-Nov2025
11Ezekiel Baltierra15:29.1Alma206.0D2 State Finals1-Nov2025
11Ezekiel Baltierra15:37.8Alma201.4Region 1424-Oct2025
11Ezekiel Baltierra15:46.0Alma199.7Greater Lansing11-Oct2025
11Ezekiel Baltierra16:02.9Alma201.0TVC 37-Oct2025
11Ezekiel Baltierra15:52.0Alma200.0Birch Run Fall30-Sep2025
11Ezekiel Baltierra15:23.0Alma213.0Bluejay27-Sep2025
11Ezekiel Baltierra15:34.4Alma207.5TVC 223-Sep2025
11Ezekiel Baltierra15:57.3Alma211.2Spartan12-Sep2025
11Ezekiel Baltierra15:52.0Alma207.7TVC 19-Sep2025
11Ezekiel Baltierra15:30.5Alma214.2John Bruder Classic3-Sep2025
11Ezekiel Baltierra15:41.9Alma205.0Saranac27-Aug2025
11Ezekiel Baltierra15:52.2Alma209.0Birch Run Early21-Aug2025
GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
10Ezekiel Baltierra15:36.7Alma202.4MITCA9-Nov2024
10Ezekiel Baltierra15:48.8Alma197.7Division 2 State2-Nov2024
10Ezekiel Baltierra15:50.7Alma197.1Region 1425-Oct2024
10Ezekiel Baltierra17:16.1Alma195.0TVC Overall15-Oct2024
10Ezekiel Baltierra15:40.0Alma204.0Greater Lansing12-Oct2024
10Ezekiel Baltierra16:01.4Alma198.2TVC 38-Oct2024
10Ezekiel Baltierra15:59.4Alma198.2Portage5-Oct2024
10Ezekiel Baltierra15:57.4Alma195.5Birch Run Fall1-Oct2024
10Ezekiel Baltierra15:50.7Alma199.4DeWitt28-Sep2024
10Ezekiel Baltierra16:07.4Alma205.2TVC 225-Sep2024
10Ezekiel Baltierra16:36.5Alma205.8TVC 117-Sep2024
10Ezekiel Baltierra16:09.4Alma205.5Spartan13-Sep2024
10Ezekiel Baltierra15:49.9Alma207.0John Bruder Classic4-Sep2024
10Ezekiel Baltierra16:24.4Alma204.9Yellowjacket28-Aug2024
GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
9Ezekiel Baltierra15:38.9Alma200.0MITCA11-Nov2023
9Ezekiel Baltierra15:46.5Alma198.5Division 2 State4-Nov2023
9Ezekiel Baltierra15:47.6Alma197.1Region 1527-Oct2023
9Ezekiel Baltierra16:39.6Alma190.5CC-C Eagle20-Oct2023
9Ezekiel Baltierra16:00.3Alma190.2TVC Overall17-Oct2023
9Ezekiel Baltierra16:26.4Alma195.9Greater Lansing14-Oct2023
9Ezekiel Baltierra15:49.9Alma196.4TVC Red Championship10-Oct2023
9Ezekiel Baltierra16:21.7Alma193.4Birch Run Fall3-Oct2023
9Ezekiel Baltierra15:55.2Alma195.6Bluejay30-Sep2023
9Ezekiel Baltierra16:27.7Alma193.4Spartan15-Sep2023
9Ezekiel Baltierra16:03.0Alma200.7John Bruder Classic7-Sep2023
9Ezekiel Baltierra16:55.4Alma182.2Yellowjacket30-Aug2023

Personal Records

5k (XC) – 15:17
800m – 1:58
1600m – 4:13
3200m – 9:06

Accolades

XC

6th Place – Division 2 State
3x All-State
TVC Red Champion
3x Top-5 – Greater Lansing

Track

7th Place – Division 2 State 1600m
7th Place – Division 2 State 4×8
4x All-State
Region 20 1600m Champion
TVC Conference 1600m Champion

His Breakout Race

For a kid who’s been in the 15’s all three years, stepped onto the podium each time at MIS, and owned a 4:21 1600m as a freshman, it’s really tough to find ONE breakout race. But I believe this past track season displayed just how much of Baltierra’s potential is still untapped. Two races stand out, both in terms of time and the sense that he’s got even more to show us.

You have to take these in the context of his career. Prior to Distance Night, Ezekiel had donned an Alma jersey for over 30 races at the 1600m distance. He began his career fast, closing his freshman year with a 4:21 in the event. He’d been a consistent runner, many of those efforts between 4:20 and 4:30. In 2026, a few had been a bit quicker, namely two 4:17’s, one for the full mile indoors and another to win Region 20. Past the pressures of regionals and in the right environment, Baltierra was able to pop a 4:13.7 in Grand Rapids.

He’d raced the 3200m a bit less often. He’d always been present at the Bluejay Elite 3200m, racing to 9:24, 9:53, and 9:27 the past three seasons. The week after state, Ezekiel took the trek over to Davison to hopefully end the season on a high note. Coming into the race, though lightly raced, he owned a personal best of 9:21. Under the Davison lights, Baltierra, along with Kamari Ronfeldt and Marek Butkiewicz, took aim at the 9-flat barrier. Zeke aggressively hung in there for much of the race, pushing the pace and holding the other two accountable. After eight laps, Baltierra finished with a brand new PR, 9:06, leagues ahead of where it stood prior.

Cross is next, with ample opportunity to raise his lofty standards.

Uncategorized

2026’s 50 Tickets to Brooklyn: Girls #9

mixcspeedratings

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!

2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020

Many of these photos are sourced from either MLive or Miles Postema. Any others will find credit in the caption.

GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
10Adalyn Raab17:41.2Zeeland East160.9MITCA8-Nov2025
10Adalyn Raab17:42.0Zeeland East159.0D1 State Finals1-Nov2025
10Adalyn Raab18:04.0Zeeland East156.0Region 325-Oct2025
10Adalyn Raab17:39.4Zeeland East160.2OK Black Championship15-Oct2025
10Adalyn Raab18:37.3Zeeland East150.9Portage4-Oct2025
10Adalyn Raab18:00.1Zeeland East160.6OK Black 21-Oct2025
10Adalyn Raab17:48.9Zeeland East156.7Otsego Bulldog27-Sep2025
10Adalyn Raab18:20.7Zeeland East151.1Chargers Autumn Sunrise20-Sep2025
10Adalyn Raab18:09.0Zeeland East165.0OK Black 117-Sep2025
10Adalyn Raab18:39.0Zeeland East145.3Ottawa Hills12-Sep2025
10Adalyn Raab18:21.7Zeeland East157.4Under the Lights v222-Aug2025
GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
9Adalyn Raab18:23.2Zeeland East145.9Division 2 State2-Nov2024
9Adalyn Raab18:17.7Zeeland East147.4Region 1126-Oct2024
9Adalyn Raab18:26.7Zeeland East143.8OK Black Conference16-Oct2024
9Adalyn Raab18:25.6Zeeland East150.1Portage5-Oct2024
9Adalyn Raab18:47.2Zeeland East144.6OK Black 22-Oct2024
9Adalyn Raab18:45.6Zeeland East140.1Otsego Bulldog28-Sep2024
9Adalyn Raab18:48.2Zeeland East143.9Chargers Autumn Sunrise21-Sep2024
9Adalyn Raab19:23.3Zeeland East147.6OK Black 118-Sep2024
9Adalyn Raab19:07.7Zeeland East138.1Ottawa Hills13-Sep2024
9Adalyn Raab20:03.5Zeeland East120.9Bredeweg7-Sep2024
9Adalyn Raab19:30.5Zeeland East131.2Under the Lights v223-Aug2024

Personal Records

5k (XC) – 17:39
400m – 59.25
800m – 2:16
1600m – 4:50
3200m – 10:34

Accolades

XC

9th Place – Division 1 State
2x All-State
Region 3 Champion
OK Black Conference Champion

Track

5th Place – Division 1 State 1600m
6th Place – Division 1 State 4×4
4x All-State
MITS/MITCA Indoor State 4×8 Champion
16th Place – Division 1 State 4×8

Her Championship Season

Which one?

This past spring, when Adalyn rolled to a massive 1600m personal best at MITCA (4:50), that after notching her best ever D1 finish in the event?

Last fall, where she capped off a season of undefeated conference action, won her first Regional title, then grabbed a top-10 spot at MIS?

A year prior, when the then freshman consistently ran in the low-18’s, PRing in her region, and had no fear of the state stage (placing 11th)?

Two track seasons ago, where Raab was ranked in the top-5 amongst Michigan freshmen in the 1600m and 3200m?

Take a pick, as Adalyn spins her best material when everyone’s listening.

Uncategorized

2026’s 50 Tickets to Brooklyn: Boys #9

mixcspeedratings

GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
11Jacob Szalay15:24.8Saline206.1MITCA8-Nov2025
11Jacob Szalay15:20.1Saline207.3D1 State Finals1-Nov2025
11Jacob Szalay15:53.3Saline195.6Region 525-Oct2025
11Jacob Szalay15:59.1Saline200.6SEC Championship16-Oct2025
11Jacob Szalay16:01.3Saline202.2Portage4-Oct2025
11Jacob Szalay15:56.0Saline199.0SEC Red 225-Sep2025
11Jacob Szalay15:46.1Saline201.0Jackson20-Sep2025
11Jacob Szalay16:14.8Saline205.4Spartan12-Sep2025
11Jacob Szalay15:55.6Saline198.5SEC 19-Sep2025
11Jacob Szalay16:44.4Saline185.5Bath6-Sep2025
GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
10Jacob Szalay15:44.7Saline199.8MITCA9-Nov2024
10Jacob Szalay15:38.1Saline201.3Division 1 State2-Nov2024
10Jacob Szalay15:57.0Saline195.7Region 526-Oct2024
10Jacob Szalay15:58.8Saline200.1SEC Championship17-Oct2024
10Jacob Szalay16:06.2Saline199.6River Rat Open10-Oct2024
10Jacob Szalay16:12.4Saline193.9Portage5-Oct2024
10Jacob Szalay16:40.3Saline193.6SEC Red 224-Sep2024
10Jacob Szalay16:02.6Saline197.1Jackson21-Sep2024
10Jacob Szalay16:54.9Saline190.7SEC 110-Sep2024
10Jacob Szalay16:29.6Saline195.8Bath7-Sep2024
GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
9Jacob Szalay16:31.2Saline183.9Division 1 State4-Nov2023
9Jacob Szalay16:20.4Saline184.5Region 528-Oct2023
9Jacob Szalay16:59.7Saline183.8SEC Championship19-Oct2023
9Jacob Szalay16:21.4Saline189.9Portage7-Oct2023
9Jacob Szalay16:09.0Saline185.0SEC Red 227-Sep2023
9Jacob Szalay16:45.6Saline181.8Jackson23-Sep2023
9Jacob Szalay16:48.5Saline184.5Bath9-Sep2023
9Jacob Szalay17:06.0Saline184.7Milan Puddle Jumper29-Aug2023

Personal Records

5k (XC) – 15:20
800m – 1:56
1600m – 4:12
3200m – 9:12

Accolades

XC

15th Place – Division 1 State
2x All-State
2x Top-3 – SEC Red
2x Top-5 – Region 5

Track

3rd Place – Division 1 State 1600m
7th Place – Division 1 State 3200m
8th Place – Division 1 State 4×8
Region 5 1600m/3200m Champion

His Breakout Race

You could pick a few from Jacob’s career and be correct in each instance. From this past season, a 4:14 at the rain-delayed Barnyard or a 4:12 in the race against D1’s best. From the prior fall, a 15:20 in the State Finals, a massive personal and season best. Or even stretching back to his sophomore season, when he shattered his previous best at the Division 1 XC Finals. I’m not in the trenches of his mind, I can’t speak for what motivates him to rally in the most consequential environments. However, I can’t help but think that confidence is built from early success, then stacked with each momentous notch in the resume.

Harkening back to that ’24 season. Szalay was coming off a freshman year that portrayed much promise. He’d run 4:33, one of the faster freshman times for a Hornet, and stayed in the 16’s for seemingly the entire season. As a sophomore, those times remained the same, but were inching closer and closer to a leap forward. The Jackson Invite was a real crack at sub-16, 2.6 seconds off the mark. That finally came in the SEC Red Championship and was backed up at the Lake Erie Regional. Jacob was in the discussion for All-State (I had him at 40th), but perhaps on the outside looking in. That is, until his impeccable MIS performance. Szalay moved up beautifully throughout the race, crossing the mile in 39th, then moving up multiple spots in each mile and the finishing stretch, before placing 16th. A nearly 20 sec. PR on the biggest stage, one that has snowballed into even more accolades and accomplishments.