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The Regional Previews: Division 1, Region 5

Last Year

SUMMER PREVIEW

MID-SEASON

FINAL PROJECTIONS

THE RESULT

Girls

  1. Saline (4th)
  2. Ann Arbor Pioneer (3rd)
  3. Temperance Bedford (28th)

Boys

  1. Saline (7th)
  2. Ann Arbor Pioneer (5th)
  3. Monroe (27th)

Top 27 Teams

Previous years had top-25 teams, but there’s 27 (and sometimes more) team qualifiers and what does it hurt to add another two?

Girls

Saline (Top 2), Ann Arbor Pioneer (3rd)

Boys

Ann Arbor Pioneer (11th), Saline (18th)

(If your team isn’t listed in the images above or the scores below, you probably don’t have five returners, at least on ol’ athletic.net. I’m sure many of these teams will fill out their rosters by late October)

Projected Scores

PlaceGirls TeamScore
1Saline30
2Ann Arbor Pioneer33
3Brownstown Woodhaven101
4Temperance Bedford129
5Wyandotte Roosevelt174
6Monroe182
7Allen Park184
8Dearborn Heights Crestwood248
9Dearborn255
10Gibraltar Carlson259
11Detroit Cass Tech281
12Belleville357
13Dearborn Fordson402
14Detroit Martin Luther King428

PlaceBoys TeamScore
1Ann Arbor Pioneer35
2Saline54
3Temperance Bedford95
4Allen Park99
5Brownstown Woodhaven157
6Monroe158
7Gibraltar Carlson198
8Dearborn260
9Wyandotte Roosevelt267
10Dearborn Edsel Ford317
11Belleville324
12Ypsilanti Lincoln348
13Dearborn Heights Crestwood349
14Lincoln Park432
15Dearborn Fordson485

Top Runners

I’m making a slight change for the Division 1 folks. Previous regional writeups had the top finishers, even if they were mentioned in the Top 10’s or 50 Tickets. Because so many Division 1 kids make up the top 50 returners (which makes sense, since D1 covers about 60% of the state), I’ll write about a few returners beyond those 50. This will hopefully extend a bit more coverage towards more deserving athletes. Some of the 50 have been covered, others will get their own post. Check the Summer Preview page or keep checking back until Thursday for those.

Payton Scheffler, Brownstown-Woodhaven

Has excelled on the track these past few years. Payton has smashed through the 5 min. barrier both as a sophomore and junior, and this year nabbed her first individual medal at Division 1’s State Finals, running 2:13 in the 800m. On top of all this, she ain’t bad at cross either, grabbing a state qualifier in each of the past three years.

Sylvia Sanok Dufallo, Ann Arbor Pioneer

Beyond the cross course and into spring is where Sylvia truly shines. Three years of high school racin’ have led to three years of sub-2:20 efforts in the 800m. During her sophomore spring, that led to an All-State finish, and throughout many of the seasons, she’s been a part of Pioneer/Purple TC championship relays.

Corynn Gady, Saline

Viewing paces, viewing races, you look at two different girls between her 9th and 10th grade years. An 8th place over here in Region 5 was a solid 16 spots lower than what she achieved in 2021, a 9th place in the SEC Red wasn’t even possible the previous year, as she was winning the JV race. I have a feeling we’ll come back to this in a few months claiming that she was underrated, as her 5:06 and 11:27 point to someone capable of individual glory come November.

Eric Overdier, Ann Arbor Pioneer

Another one who transformed where and when he’s stepping on the line. During his first two Octobers, Eric hadn’t experienced a varsity regional race. In the three races prior to last October’s regional, Eric had busted out a slew of sub-17’s. Much pressure on his shoulders, to which he responded in a major way.

Vincent Peterson Sand, Ann Arbor Pioneer

Each of the past two years, he’s reliably been in the mid-16’s come championship season. Both years have emitted 6th place finishes over here in Region 5, though in 2022, he was able to improve on his State Finals finish by 30 places. Track may have not been there in terms of individual honors, but he was a valuable team member in a sub-8 4x800m outfit.

Caleb Wynn, Allen Park

On a few occasions, I’ll bend the rules to praise those Jaguars, but no rules needed breaking this time. Caleb closed his junior season with a bevy of 16-min. efforts, including a 16:34 here to grab 13th. Expect even more of the same after his 9:57 on the track.

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The Top Tens: Division 4 Boys #2

THE SUMMER PREVIEW





2022 Results

MeetDivisionPlace
Bridgman1st of 10
New Buffalo2nd of 7
Bangor5th of 17
Berrien County3rd of 12
PortageD44th of 18
Bloomingdale1st of 6
Class D1st of 16
Region 312nd of 9
Division 4 State5th of 27



Top Returners

Landon Rogers

Turned his 17th place cross country finish into a track season where he captured BCS titles in the 1600m and 3200m. His 4:46 in the 16 ranked him 5th across all Division 4’s freshmen.

Charlie Gibson

Solid across the board during his freshman track campaign. 2:14, 4:53, 10:50. Placed in the top-8 of both the 1600m and 3200m over in Region 34.

Adam Slavens

Always finds a way into the 17’s late in the year. All-Region in his first two seasons and moved into the top-50 at State this past fall.

Austin York

Dig a bit deeper into his stats and you’ll be wowed by the strength. This spring, Austin powered his way through a multitude of 2:0x 800m efforts, eventually ending just north of 2-flat. But what stands out to me was his ability to double back a few minutes later, often running the 3200m in the low-11’s.  

Sean Driscoll

Started his sophomore campaign much like his freshman year, opening with a 23+ minute performance at Bridgman. But then his season took a wild turn, accelerating toward the 18’s. As a freshman, he wasn’t included on the Mustangs’ regional squad, as a sophomore he was the important 5th man in a state qualifying performance.

Owen Slavens

Cross strength goes hand in hand with the ability to cruise at the long sprints. Regional champion in the 400m, 8th place in the State Finals in the 200m.

Braiden Brooks

Braiden’s first two years of competing featured 20+ races, all of which above 20:00 and most of those above 22:00. Drastic change between that form and his junior era, especially from October on, where he was sub-20 on six of his final seven efforts.

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The Top Tens: Division 4 Girls #2

THE SUMMER PREVIEW





2022 Results

MeetDivisionPlace
Pete MossSmall1st of 9
SpartanWhite12th of 28
BluejayGold2nd of 9
PortageD41st of 16
Ski Valley1st of 4
Northern MichiganSmall4th of 7
Region 282nd of 6
Division 4 State1st of 27



Top Returners

Allie Nowak

After capturing last fall’s regional title and placing 3rd in Division 4, went on to show more of that growth during track. Subtracted 20+ seconds from her 1600m, 10+ seconds from her 800m on the path to a Ski Valley 800m title, Region 31 1600m title, and an All-State in the 1600m as well.

Yolanda Gascho

On the track, as with cross, she had approximately a month to click off all the fast times. Which she again did, racing to 5:41 in the 1600m, 4th amongst Division 4 freshmen.

Madalyn Agren

One of the harder workers you’ll find, has come quite a ways from the girl running in the 22-26 min. range in 2020. Sub-21 the past two years in cross, battling injuries to attain that time this past fall. But the setbacks often make the accomplishments sweeter, and I’m sure stepping on the podium to receive that 5th place medal in this spring’s Division 4 3200m was a moment wrought with emotion.

Cora Mullins

Currently on the sidelines, but we don’t let that detract us from giving recognition. Her 21:21 at Portage (a personal best) was over 3 whole minutes faster than the same race in 2021.

Rosalinda Gascho

Closed her sophomore year with a sub-22 then decided she wanted more. Bolted back into the 21’s at Portage and didn’t look back the rest of the year.

Potential Newcomers

Harlie Fox

Won the Ski Valley MS 400m and if anyone can turn 400m girls into XC contributors, it’s Coach Marcum.