Where that speed came from, I have no clue, I’m not sure she does either
Madison had a promising freshman cross campaign, knocking down the 19:00 door multiple times, placing All-State
But her freshman track season was otherworldly, especially in the shorter distances
After battling COVID for much of April, even into May, a few short weeks later she was running 2:15/5:08, capturing All-State in the 800 and 1600m, along with numerous wins at Regionals and in the I-8 Conference
After a full summer of healthy training, she competed in her sophomore year of cross country with that same vigor posted in track, winning over 60% of her races
And the races she didn’t win were all burners, a 2nd place in D3 at Portage, 12th place at State
During track, she set new heights even with an already high bar, nearly breaking 5:00 in the 1600m and moving up 2 places in the D3 State 800m
Madison and Lumen Christi both have huge aspirations this fall, I’m eager to view the journey towards achieving those
Grade
Name
Time
Rating
Meet
Course
Date
10
Madison Osterberg
19:29.9
154.0
Michigan Catholic
St. Francis Retreat Center
28-Aug
10
Madison Osterberg
19:11.1
142.3
Lakeview
Lakeview MS
11-Sep
10
Madison Osterberg
20:43.4
145.9
I-8 1
Parma Western HS
14-Sep
10
Madison Osterberg
18:50.9
151.4
Holly
Springfield Oaks
18-Sep
10
Madison Osterberg
19:18.8
136.7
Jackson
Sharp Park
25-Sep
10
Madison Osterberg
19:06.8
136.4
DeWitt
DeWitt HS
2-Oct
10
Madison Osterberg
19:03.3
140.2
I-8 2
Charlton Park
6-Oct
10
Madison Osterberg
18:23.5
156.2
Portage
Portage West MS
9-Oct
10
Madison Osterberg
18:50.4
140.5
Chris Jensen
Sharp Park
16-Oct
10
Madison Osterberg
18:07.5
142.5
I-8
Turkeyville
23-Oct
10
Madison Osterberg
19:07.2
138.9
23 Sharp Park
Sharp Park
29-Oct
10
Madison Osterberg
18:52.0
134.7
D3 State
MIS
6-Nov
10
Madison Osterberg
18:26.9
148.7
MMOC
Shepherd HS
13-Nov
Grade
Name
Rating
Meet
Course
Date
9
Madison Osterberg
125.3
Michigan Catholic
St. Francis Retreat Center
29-Aug
9
Madison Osterberg
119.6
JPEC Falcon
East Jackson HS
9-Sep
9
Madison Osterberg
131.6
I-8 Jamboree 1
Harper Creek HS
15-Sep
9
Madison Osterberg
127.7
Mason/JLC
Mason HS
22-Sep
9
Madison Osterberg
128.9
Jackson Friendly
Sharp Park
26-Sep
9
Madison Osterberg
126.5
Jackson Triangular
Sharp Park
3-Oct
9
Madison Osterberg
124.3
I-8 Jamboree
Jackson NW HS
6-Oct
9
Madison Osterberg
124.3
PR 45
Hudson HS
24-Oct
9
Madison Osterberg
128.4
D3 Reg 23
Sharp Park
30-Oct
9
Madison Osterberg
131.3
D3 State
MIS
7-Nov
Linden’s had an outstanding one-two punch the past few seasons, River Meckstroth and Kyle, now it’s Kyle’s turn to solely lead the Eagles
And given his championship seasons in both cross and track, he’s more than capable and ready
Take a look at those top times and ratings, all four were post-October 1st, hitting times in good conditions, grabbing a win at Flint Metro League
And he finished 2nd in his region as well
It’s rough when you create these photoshops and you run out of room to mention all the titles
Kyle scored 40 individual points at Flint Metro League, winning the 400m through 3200m
And he was All-State in both the 800m and 1600m
Even after capturing all these crowns, Kyle wasn’t finished, hitting a new 800m PB, 1:56, at GVSU
Winning all the time is sweet, even sweeter is defending your crowns, would you bet on anyone else to hold off all challengers?
In 2019 and 2020, they didn’t field a full team at championship meets. It appears they will now…
2021
Team Champions – NCTL
Kingston MS
2021
Team Champions – NCTL, Thumb Area 3rd Place – MHSAA Zone 4
Anything in Track?
4x800m
11:11
1st Place – NCTL 4th Place – Region 40 9th Place – Thumb MoC
Gracy Walker
2:49/6:05
2nd Place – NCTL 1600m 3rd Place – NCTL 800m 5th Place – Region 40 1600m 6th Place – Region 40 800m
Meeghan Flikkie
63.3
1st Place – NCTL 400m 1st Place – Region 40 400m 8th Place – Thumb MoC 400m 9th Place – D4 State 400m
The Past Three Years
2021
2nd Place – GLAC 17th Place – Greater Lansing 3rd Place – Region 23 24th Place – D3 State
2020
Team Champions – Pre-Region 46 4th Place – GLAC 5th Place – Region 23
2019
2nd Place – GLAC 17th Place – Greater Lansing 5th Place – Region 24
Anything in Track?
4×800
10:42
4th Place – Region 29 2nd Place – GLAC 4th Place – Selby Classic
Erin Lubahn
5:46/12:49
5th Place – Region 29 1600m 3rd Place – GLAC 3200m 4th Place – GLAC 1600m 5th Place – Selby Classic 1600/3200m Jaidyn Smith
2:30/6:06
5th Place – Region 29 800m 3rd Place – GLAC 800m 8th Place – Selby Classic 800m Kayla Creisher
2:55/6:27
7th Place – GLAC 3200m 8th Place – GLAC 1600m
Jalynn Schmelter
3:08/6:56/14:28
8th Place – Region 29 3200m 5th Place – GLAC 3200m Audrey Allard
3:01/7:02
The Past Three Years
2021
Team Champions – Region 10 2nd Place – Big North 3rd Place – D2 State
2020
Team Champions – D2 State, Region 10, Pre-Region 19 2nd Place – Big North
2019
Team Champions – Big North, Region 10 2nd Place – D2 State
Anything in Track?
4×800
9:38
1st Place – Region 11 2nd Place – Big North 4th Place – D2 State
CamBrie Corey
2:28/5:18/11:14
2nd Place – Region 11 3200m 3rd Place – Big North 800/1600m 11th Place – D2 State 3200m
Madeline Loe
62.7/2:29/5:42
6th Place – Region 11 400m 4th Place – Big North 400m 6th Place – Big North 800m 2nd Place – Northern Mich. MoC 400m
Nora O’Leary
2:37/5:45/12:11
5th Place – Region 11 3200m
The Past Three Years
2021
Team Champions – Ottawa County 2nd Place – OK Red 3rd Place – Region 1 12th Place – D1 State
2020
2nd Place – OK Red 2nd Place – Pre-Region 1 7th Place – Region 1
2019
5th Place – OK Red 3rd Place – Ottawa County 6th Place – Region 1
Anything in Track?
4×800
9:51
4th Place – OK Red 7th Place – Region 2 1st Place – West Michigan
Valerie Beeck
59.6/2:12/5:07
2nd Place – OK Red 800m 3rd Place – OK Red 1600m 1st Place – Region 2 800m 3rd Place – Region 2 1600m 1st Place – West Michigan 800m 5th Place – D1 State 800m
Payton Hosley
2:35/5:23/11:58
7th Place – OK Red 3200m 7th Place – Region 2 1600m 4th Place – West Michigan 1600m
Addison Smith
2:24/5:34
6th Place – Region 2 800m 5th Place – West Michigan 800m
Actually, across the street from Chippewa Hills, in the rolling pastures and blowdozed woods. Compared to many courses in mid-Michigan, this is undulating terrain and that’s’ a GOOD THING. Cross Country should be a test and the speed bumps and turns make it so. Anyway, here’s their course video:
2021 Boys: Hart (2nd), Benzie Central (20th), Manton (18th)
2021 Girls: Hart (1st), Benzie Central (11th), Manton (15th)
A partial benefit of writing these is planning for late October. I want to be able to get to both days of regionals, I want to travel outside of metro Detroit. And when there’s 5 teams in the top-25, 3 in the top-10, this Chippewa Hills region is a likely home for my regional viewing.
Traditionally, this region has been held at Benzie. But with Chippewa Hills moving into Division 3, a more central location for teams on the western side of mid-Michigan makes sense. Lakeview is able to move over from Allendale, White Cloud is right down the street. There’s one move I don’t understand from MHSAA’s perspective. Why put Benzie Central here when they’re closer to East Jordan, then move Clare to East Jordan when that location is 3-4x further away?
Regardless of some geographical nonsense, this region is freakin’ competitive. The question as always with Hart is: will their girls come through with another state title? We’ll likely know by this point what the Pirates will need. Up front, returning a healthy Alyson Enns, Jessica Jazwinski, Lexie Beth Nienhuis, those three will be as competitive as any in Division 3. A freshman such as Kenai Kokx could solidify their 4th or 5th spot, experienced seniors such as Savanna Owens and Abigail Pretty will be there too.
Chippewa Hills benefitted from a bit of home course advantage, check that, home course magic, on the way to a surprise state berth last fall. Both Natalie Gibson and Reece Clark finished 10+ spots better than their pre-race projections, add in Kaitriss DeGroft’s race of her life, and you had one of the bigger upsets of regional weekend. Moving down to Division 3, there’s a bit more of a target on their back. How will the Warriors embrace that?
But yeah, this guy’s race is where it’s at. Hart has the ability to match their girls’ accomplishments, they have some serious firepower up front, capable of putting four guys sub-17:00 on a good day. Upperclassmen rounding out their top seven, it’s a perfect mix. Benzie also has the firepower up front, you know you’ll be getting a singular point out of Hunter. They’re a bit younger on the tail end of it, which gives hope that a youngster will have a breakout season. Reed City is just young in general, they took their lumps last year, surely motivation to prove they belong this year.
White Cloud moves up from Division Four, where the Indians placed 7th last year. A reason they could sneak into the top three would be rising sophomore Kaleb Canning, who nearly broke 18:00 to close last season despite running much of the year in the 20’s. Track proved those efforts no fluke, as he was able to reach down to 5:10 in the 1600m. Manistee is in the same boat, the Chippewas will look for a soul to step up. I feel that could be the freshman, Max Scharp, who was a Lakes 8 Champion in cross and a 5:07 1600m runner in track. Those attributes have the possibility of leading to a kid capable of running in the top-20 here.
Top 25 Boys Teams: Hart (Top 5), Reed City (6th), Benzie Central (8th), White Cloud (17th), Manistee (24th)
Top 25 Girls Teams: Hart (Top 5), Remus Chippewa Hills (11th), Benzie Central (21st)
Here, I’m writing at least a little anecdote about kids that are in the top-15 but aren’t freshman (you’ll get your day, Quinn), in the 50 Tickets (I guess the cat’s out of the bag, Alyson, Jessica, and Hunter) or on top-10 teams (pretty much everyone in this region). 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.
Jake O’Neil, Remus Chippewa Hills: Upcoming senior had his best close to a season yet in his career. Five of his final six races were of the sub-17 variety. Was a real candidate for All-State if in Division Two, now even more so in Division 3.
Hunter Sanford, Mason County Central: As a freshman, ran in the 18:00 for much of the season, even breaking that mark early in the season.
Claydon Ingleright, McBain: Has been in the low-17’s for each cross country season, now he has the benefit of a spring track season under his belt.
Nathan Ciolk, White Cloud: As a senior, he has the opportunity to lead an upset for his White Cloud squad. They’re moving up from being a top team in Division 4, can they run with the big dogs in Division 3?
Miranda McNeil, Morley-Stanwood: Began to come into her own late in her freshman year, then turned it up a notch this past fall. Twice All-State and snuck into the 18’s at Portage and Allendale.
Baylie Eisenga, McBain: Her 2021 cross season was not at the level of the previous fall, but Baylie more than turned it around in track, nearly hitting personal bests in the 800m and 1600m. 2:39 and 5:47 ain’t bad though.
Cecilia Postma, Manistee: Closed her 2021 fall on a hot streak, smashing into the 20’s when most of her season had been closer to 22:00.
Ava Hollandsworth, Remus Chippewa Hills: Although she didn’t match the times she had as a freshman, she crushed her placement at State by more than 60 spots.
Emma Soelberg, Shelby: Twice 10th place here. I have her projected in that spot again. Coincidence?
Chloe Colton, Manton: The depth here in Region 20 is phenomenal. Not often you’ll see girls with 3200m bests hovering near 12:00 that have a chance at being outside of the top-10. Speaking of that 3200m best, her 12:05 was a nearly 2:00 improvement from 2021.
Ava Iverson, Benzie Central: A straight up metronome in the 800m in May. Her final five races were all between 2:36.8 and 2:39.8.
Natalie Gibson, Remus Chippewa Hills: As said earlier, one of those big-time performers on regional day. I didn’t mention that she dropped another 1.5 minutes a week later.
