Author: mixcspeedratings

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

Take three kids in the 17’s and below for much of the year, add two freshmen that ran sub-12 for their 8th grade seasons, and that’s five who can compete in many Division 3 races.

2022 Accomplishments

3^rd Place – LCAA Championship
8^th Place – Region 23

Top Returners

Nolan Grant

Showed some serious gains this past track season, qualifying for his first individual berth at the State Finals. His 3200m at Kent City placed him 18^th in Division 3.

Miles Brown

Concentrated on the 800m this outdoor season, resulting in a marked improvement from his freshman year and medals at the LCAA and Hillsdale County championships.

Aiden Monroe

His 17:45 at Stockbridge may be his personal best, but the regional effort might be his best effort. 17:46 to close the year there gives hope for a senior year spent in the 17’s.

Marius Zwick

First year of XC started in the 20’s but closed with sub-19’s in five of his final six races.

Braden Lige

Two minute improvement from his freshman to sophomore year. No fluke either, Braden was in the mid-20’s on a variety of courses the entire year.

Ashton Cramer

3+ minute reduction from his September 13^th opener to October 15^th jaunt through Hudson Mills.

Potential Newcomers

Logan Youngman

Sub-12 on six of his seven middle school races. And for those that have doubts on the validity of middle school courses, Logan went 10:33 on the track.

Brennan McFanin

Joined Logan in the 11’s on two separate occasions.

Devon Carver

I don’t take this into account when making projections, but you gotta think he’s on the right trajectory. High-14’s as a 7^th grader, busting into the 12’s in 8^th grade. Maybe a ways from contributing, but that’s solid progress.

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

Accomplishments & Accolades

• 13^th Place – Division 2 State
• Region 10 & Northern Mich. MoC Champion
• 4^th Place – Big North Conference
• 2x All-Region
• 2x State Qualifier

Ratings Throughout the Years

Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
11	Nolan Nixon	16:31.1	Cadillac	191.6	Pete Moss	27-Aug
11	Nolan Nixon	16:34.9	Cadillac	193.7	Oiler	2-Sep
11	Nolan Nixon	16:25.0	Cadillac	195.0	John Bruder Classic	7-Sep
11	Nolan Nixon	16:46.5	Cadillac	189.5	Spartan	16-Sep
11	Nolan Nixon	16:05.6	Cadillac	191.5	Cadillac	24-Sep
11	Nolan Nixon	16:15.8	Cadillac	190.7	Otsego Bulldog	1-Oct
11	Nolan Nixon	16:21.6	Cadillac	188.8	Portage	8-Oct
11	Nolan Nixon	16:37.1	Cadillac	197.0	Big North Conference	18-Oct
11	Nolan Nixon	16:30.8	Cadillac	184.1	NW Mich MOC	22-Oct
11	Nolan Nixon	16:09.4	Cadillac	195.2	Region 10	28-Oct
11	Nolan Nixon	16:09.1	Cadillac	198.0	D2 State	5-Nov
11	Nolan Nixon	15:51.5	Cadillac	195.5	MITCA	12-Nov
Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
10	Nolan Nixon	17:20.2	Cadillac	175.3	John Bruder	8-Sep
10	Nolan Nixon	17:31.5	Cadillac	177.5	Spartan	17-Sep
10	Nolan Nixon	17:08.1	Cadillac	171.0	Cadillac	25-Sep
10	Nolan Nixon	17:20.8	Cadillac	172.1	Bluejay	2-Oct
10	Nolan Nixon	17:09.8	Cadillac	179.4	Portage	9-Oct
10	Nolan Nixon	17:50.0	Cadillac	177.7	Freeland Falcon	16-Oct
10	Nolan Nixon	17:27.1	Cadillac	178.6	Big North Conference	19-Oct
10	Nolan Nixon	16:57.9	Cadillac	174.4	Northern Michigan	23-Oct
10	Nolan Nixon	17:01.2	Cadillac	181.9	10 Chip Hills	29-Oct
10	Nolan Nixon	16:38.8	Cadillac	184.4	D2 State	6-Nov
10	Nolan Nixon	16:51.5	Cadillac	181.8	MMOC	13-Nov
Grade	Name		Team	Rating	Meet	Date
9	Nolan Nixon		Cadillac	151.6	Ottawa Hills	18-Sep
9	Nolan Nixon		Cadillac	146.0	Cougar Falcon	26-Sep
9	Nolan Nixon		Cadillac	160.6	Shepherd Bluejay	3-Oct
9	Nolan Nixon		Cadillac	159.3	Mancelona (LS)	6-Oct
9	Nolan Nixon		Cadillac	158.5	Bengals	9-Oct
9	Nolan Nixon		Cadillac	161.7	Big North Conference	13-Oct
9	Nolan Nixon		Cadillac	163.7	PR 19	19-Oct
9	Nolan Nixon		Cadillac	159.5	D2 Reg 10	31-Oct

The Rundown

When the rain falls harder, the winds howl louder, and the mud grips your every step, an athlete such as Nolan Nixon only becomes stronger. Nolan excels in what others may deem a hindrance, perhaps best evidenced by his 13^th place finish at the Division 2 State Finals. My predictions had him 17^th, but being out there on that cold, blustery November day, I knew the environment was in his favor to outperform those expectations. Circumstances aside, he closed the 2022 season on a high note. A late move coming out of the woods at Chippewa Hills was unable to be covered by his competition, gaining Nolan a regional championship. In the postseason, he excelled in Kenosha, running near his best times all season (rarely done – tough course) and set a personal best at MITCA, breaking 16 for the first time.

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

Accomplishments & Accolades

• 3x State Qualifier
• 2x All-Region
• 6^th Place – SEC Red
• 3^rd Place – Region 5 3200m
• 4^th Place – SEC Red 3200m

Ratings Throughout the Years

Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
11	Laney Alig	21:00.7	Saline	104.1	Milan Puddle Jumper	30-Aug
11	Laney Alig	19:50.4	Saline	129.2	Saline Early Bird	1-Sep
11	Laney Alig	21:07.2	Saline	98.9	Bath	10-Sep
11	Laney Alig	20:17.6	Saline	113.1	SEC Red 2	28-Sep
11	Laney Alig	19:44.3	Saline	118.2	Marauder	1-Oct
11	Laney Alig	19:20.8	Saline	129.4	Portage	8-Oct
11	Laney Alig	19:10.6	Saline	129.5	River Rat Open	14-Oct
11	Laney Alig	18:43.5	Saline	136.2	SEC Championship	20-Oct
11	Laney Alig	18:28.8	Saline	137.7	Region 5	29-Oct
11	Laney Alig	19:12.2	Saline	134.9	D1 State	5-Nov
Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
10	Laney Alig	19:52.1	Saline	128.0	A2 Early Bird	2-Sep
10	Laney Alig	19:30.6	Saline	133.8	Bath	11-Sep
10	Laney Alig	20:12.2	Saline	122.6	SEC 1	14-Sep
10	Laney Alig	19:12.9	Saline	138.7	Jackson	25-Sep
10	Laney Alig	19:46.8	Saline	128.7	SEC Red 2	28-Sep
	Laney Alig	19:27.7	Saline	134.8	Portage	9-Oct
10	Laney Alig	19:41.0	Saline	133.0	River Rat	15-Oct
10	Laney Alig	19:32.3	Saline	128.2	SEC Championship	21-Oct
10	Laney Alig	20:30.8	Saline	135.4	5 Lake Erie	30-Oct
10	Laney Alig	19:25.7	Saline	128.4	D1 State	6-Nov
Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
9	Laney Alig		Saline	97.2	Plymouth/Saline	1-Sep
9	Laney Alig		Saline	99.1	Saline/Skyline	16-Sep
9	Laney Alig		Saline	124.4	Pioneer/Saline	3-Oct
9	Laney Alig		Saline	129.9	West Ottawa	10-Oct
9	Laney Alig		Saline	129.9	SEC Red	17-Oct
9	Laney Alig		Saline	109.2	PR 9	24-Oct
9	Laney Alig		Saline	99.0	D1 Reg 5	31-Oct
9	Laney Alig		Saline	110.8	D1 State	6-Nov

The Rundown

Beginning in early October, Laney began to gain momentum, a trend that not only continued through the rest of the fall, but into track. Her 19:20 at Portage was her best effort since Jackson the previous year, helping her Hornets place 4^th in a tough field. That minor success led to many more, PBs at three consecutive races, and a State performance on par with many of those times.

This isn’t a criticism, actually a major compliment. The drawback of a program such as Saline, each year with solid teams, is that runners such as Laney get lost in my shuffle. Her career arc definitely warrants more attention. Time-wise, she’s been in sub-20 in each year. Dig deeper, peering at places, she’s improved each consecutive fall. In the SEC Red, from 9^th as a freshman to 6^th as a junior. At Region 5, 24^th to 12^th to 5^th. Though surely the best example is on the track, where her 11:12 3200m (in the rain, mind you!) qualified Laney for her first ever race at the State Finals.