mixcspeedratings

Where: Allendale HS

Primarily flat with a few bumps in the back section. Wide open, solid footing, easy for spectators. A waterlogged mess for everyone else, last year’s regionals ran fast in comparison. Expect some personal bests as Grand Rapids area athletes are known to do as the season ends. Thank you to the Allendale folks for hosting many regionals. Easier for state officials, easier for me, just copy/pasting what I previously wrote.

2021 Boys: Grand Rapids Christian (4^th), Spring Lake (24^th), Allendale (20^th)

2021 Girls: Grand Rapids Christian (2^nd), Spring Lake (6^th), Allendale (15^th)

There have been a few changes to this Allendale regional, a bit more subtle compared to other areas of the state. Holland moves down from Division 1 and they bring Holland Christian along with them, both teams containing solid outfits in both genders. Out are the two Muskegon schools, moving north, and West Catholic, entering the Division 3 realm. Also moving in are Zeeland East and Hamilton, an additional two solid squads.

With all this solidity, the quality is deep and teams that might normally make it to face another week will be under pressure to perform. At the highest levels of the sport in our country, you need to perform on that day, whether it’s the Marathon Trials on the roads or the Olympic Trials on the track. No seven game series, no consolation bracket, just one day.

Whereas the girls side appears set, the boys have two spots available from what looks to be four teams. Grand Rapids Christian loses two from their 4^th place outfit, Tinsae and Ben were reliably low sticks. However, behind them are a host of young thinclads ready to burst to the forefront.

The Maroons from Holland Christian are a favorite to advance, appearing to have the best 3^rd-7^th runners of the rest of the pack. That characteristic will be heightened if they’re available to make it to the Speedway.

With the talented runners from GR Christian and Holland Christian filling up the middle of the pack, the next team will need to place runners ahead of that massive grouping. Take your pick, for Holland, is it guys such as Noah Lambers and Dylan Chmura ahead of the field? Hamilton’s Josh Langeland channeling his regional form from 12 months prior? Or does Kilian Whalen afford enough of a gap towards the front?

Top 25 Boys Teams: Grand Rapids Christian (5^th), Holland Christian (13^th), Allendale (15^th), Hamilton (21^st), Holland (24^th)

Top 25 Girls Teams: Grand Rapids Christian (Top 4), Spring Lake (7^th), Zeeland East (14^th), Holland (23^rd)

Here, I’m writing at least a little anecdote about kids that are in the top-15 but aren’t freshman (Lilah, Alina), in the 50 Tickets (Alison, Kilian, Natalie, Reuben), or on Top 10 teams (Grand Rapids Christian with one post done and another coming, don’t forget Spring Lake). Want to spread love but also not overwork myself. All in all, my estimation is through all these previews, I’ll be writing at least a sentence about 1000+ kids. If there’s an error in here, let me know.

Adrian Castillo, Holland: Time-wise, Adrian has been fairly consistent throughout his career. Each of the past three seasons, he’s been below 17:00 at his best. The striking difference between his junior year and the other two? A State Finals appearance, cherished after two years of missing out.

Gavin Wiersma, Zeeland East: Perhaps the greatest evidence of Gavin’s progress was the meets in which he competed. In 2020, his championship season ended at Pre-Regionals. This past fall, through Regionals and onto State.

Max VanHuis, Hamilton: Blazed through last year’s Otsego regional, hitting the line in 7^th, five places ahead of his projection. That 16:23 was a 30+ seconds quicker than his sophomore best.

Jeb Hillary, Grand Rapids Catholic Central: Popped a sub-17 in the middle of last season, but kicked it up a notch during track. His 4:36 in the 1600m ranked 12^th amongst all Lower Peninsula freshmen.

Abatu Dykstra, Hamilton: As with Jeb, the young freshman Abatu slipped under 17:00. For the spring, he concentrated more on the 2-lapper, reaching 7^th place in the OK Blue.

Nick Riemersma, Zeeland East: Many tools in the toolshed for Nick. As XC endurance athlete, he’s been sub-17:00. Surprisingly, this hasn’t zapped his power, as he hit new lows in the 400m (51.4) and heights in the high jump (6’0”).

Ian Richthammer, Grand Rapids Catholic Central: Toward the close of his freshman fall, Ian had found his way into the mid-18’s. A year later, he began there, then progressed to the mid-17’s. What’s next, the mid-16’s? Whatever he’s doing, it’s working.

Aidan Brinks, Holland Christian: Holland Christian is a sleeper to gravitate towards that top-10 and higher. It’s always a big help when you have youngsters such as Aidan come in and find success, especially in championship meets. Aidan brought his game to the OK Blue Conference Meet, placing 8^th with a massive personal best.

Emily Tomes, Grand Rapids Catholic Central: In two short years, Emily has managed to finish top-10 twice at Regionals, top-5 twice in the OK Green, and had the most shocking performance of the 2020 State Meet, where she placed 9^th in the entirety of Division 2.

Emma Margaron, Holland: Rookie season contained an October full of races that were sub-21 and a top-5 placing in the OK Green.

Alyssa Butterfield, Allendale: Has a penchant for racing her best in the closing stages of the season. Resulting from that quickened state has been an OK Blue title and a 2^nd place finish.

Trina Farris, Hamilton: Her XC season was cut short, so she went and saved her big-time performances for track. Third place in the OK Blue 3200m was her best conference final at that distance.

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Regional Previews: Division 2, Region 12

August 12, 2022August 12, 2022 mixcspeedratings

Regional Previews

50 Tickets

Top Tens

Where: South Christian HS

South Christian has graciously hosted many meets, including four from last year. We had Under the Lights in late August, running slow as early races are known to do. The final OK White Jamboree is a great example, many of those teams in Division 1 or 2, including a certain East Grand Rapids outfit that will be here. Altogether, those races rated as +6, so we’ll assume this is a fair course.

2021 Boys: Otsego (1^st), Three Rivers (26^th), Holland Christian (23^rd)

2021 Girls: Otsego (5^th), Zeeland East (14^th), Holland Christian (26^th)

Another regional example of the shifting puzzle pieces. This map nerd would either love the job of sitting in the regional assignment room or dread the geographical challenges. Otsego is down to the previously posted Region 13, Zeeland East and Holland Christian to Region 11, moving west are East Grand Rapids and West Michigan Aviation, Marshall coming a bit more north, heck even our host was somewhere else.

Some of the coaches come from elsewhere. East Grand Rapids’ Drew Collette is the Matt Barnes/Lou Williams/Jamal Crawford of Michigan XC coaches. Those three haven’t won a title, Drew, if everything goes to plan, has a very real shot of making that happen. If one extrapolates his past and pegs it into the future, imagine a guy who can turn a program around in short order combined with the massive talent that East Grand Rapids produces. Your mind may explode.

On the other hand, Forest Hills Eastern grows in the shadows of giants such as EGR and Grand Rapids Christian. Quietly, the Hawks have assembled another team capable of finishing in Division 2’s top-5. After all, they’ve placed there in two of the past three years. Those recent high placings have affected their entire program, with multiple boys coming out from under the woodwork, hitting mileage goals over the summer. Oh, and you may have heard of Aiden Sullivan, that headband wearin’ speed demon.

Top 25 Boys Teams: East Grand Rapids (Top 5), Forest Hills Eastern (19^th), Marshall (23^rd)

Top 25 Girls Teams: East Grand Rapids (Top 5), Forest Hills Eastern (Top 5), GR West Michigan Aviation (13^th), Grand Rapids South Christian (21^st)

Here, I’m writing at least a little anecdote about kids that are in the top-15 but aren’t freshman (Lynn twynns), in the 50 Tickets (Aiden, Drew, Emma), or on Top 10 teams (EGR, FHE, EGR). Want to spread love but also not overwork myself. All in all, my estimation is through all these previews, I’ll be writing at least a sentence about 1000+ kids. Also, it’s late at night and I’m tiiiiired. If there’s an error in here, let me know.

Caleb Boes, Grand Rapids South Christian: For whatever reason, Caleb wasn’t listed in the first edition of this post. I’m not sure why he wasn’t included in the original sheet. There were a few errors with grades and kids not getting included, but it’s not that… whatever. Only one more week until I throw away this summer stuff and start anew.

ANYHOW, as Lucas VanDam correctly pointed out, he’s rated and ranked right next to Joseph VanderKooi. His personal best hails from this regional race, over in Region 13, but a grand stage nonetheless. Ranked 11th going into that race, he placed 5th, then turned that momentum into a track season where he debuted in the 1600m at 4:39 and set a significant PB in the 3200m at 10:02.

Joseph VanderKooi, Grand Rapids South Christian: Joseph ran his first regional race as a junior. His freshman year, he didn’t make South Christian’s varsity squad for the race. His sophomore year, he finished 22^nd at Pre-Regionals. His junior year, he was 10^th in the whole dang thing. Two minute improvement from 2020 to 2021.

Jacob Montgomery, Ionia: Over in the rain-soaked hills of the St. Francis Retreat Center, Jacob outperformed his regional projections by 6 places, helping Ionia graduate to run another week. Many of his teammates have moved on, but Jacob will still be out there battling.

Jack Bidwell, Marshall: Jack just comes through at I-8 Championship meets. 4:34 to close out his 1600m races in track, grabbing a 4^th place in his conference.

Dominic Lowrie, Battle Creek Harper Creek: Another freshman that’s flying under the radar. Dominic was sub-17 in his final four races.

Jack DeVries, GR West Michigan Aviation: Whereas others may have dropped significant time on the grass, Jack came through on the cinders. In only his second 3200m of the year, he ran 10:18, a good minute faster compared to 2021.

Riley Shults, Hastings: Used the disappointment of not qualifying for State to fuel him for a Barry County title. Any time you can win an area championship, that’s a major win in my book.

Aidan McPartlin, Marshall: Beginning in the sport as a freshman, Aidan was sub-18 once. A year later, sub-18 in the majority of his races.

Ava Crews, Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg: After September 13^th, she only raced once above the 20:00 barrier. That was a Barry County victory, somewhat excusable. When she wasn’t capturing county titles, she was nearly reaching the podium at MIS or placing top-5 at both regionals and OK Gold.

Camille DeCola, Marshall: Hit November on a roll and just kept going. Hit a 19-flat on the notoriously quick Turkeyville course, even more impressively, hit that same mark on a slower MIS track. That State Finals time? Only good enough for 14^th place. Yes, she is lower than what her state meet suggests. These ratings take into account the entirety of the 2021 season, championship warriors such as Camille tend to get underrated.

Olivia Barabas, Wayland Union: All three years running in HS, she’s been in the 19’s. Her first two, those performances would happen late, as a junior, she was impatient and sped to that mark early. Top-10 in the OK Gold, 7^th over in Region 13, and her best State Finals finish yet.

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50 Tickets to Brooklyn: #10