This past spring, Alexandra took that next step and seriously showed us some range
You could see the traces of a breakout season early, when someone is running PB’s in cold, early season duals, you know they’re raring to hit exceptional times when the weather and competition warms
She did that exactly, hitting a 10:54 at New Balance, then 2:19 at Oakland County, 5:02 at D1 State
We saw a similar pattern last fall, an 18:57 at Jackson (not the greatest conditions ever), on par with her freshman season best
And then a month later, multiple 18:1x efforts and another All-State honor
All in all, a year where Alexandra continuously busted through barriers, and given that track season, it doesn’t look like she’s done growing in this sport
Grade
Name
Time
Rating
Meet
Course
Date
10
Alexandra Brigham
20:26.8
129.4
Milford
Possum Hollow
2-Sep
10
Alexandra Brigham
19:37.8
126.1
Ramblin’ Rock
Willow
11-Sep
10
Alexandra Brigham
19:58.9
136.4
OAA Red 1
Lake Orion HS
14-Sep
10
Alexandra Brigham
18:57.2
143.9
Jackson
Sharp Park
25-Sep
10
Alexandra Brigham
19:31.7
132.8
Hansons
Freedom Hill
2-Oct
10
Alexandra Brigham
19:47.5
137.2
Oakland County
Possum Hollow
9-Oct
10
Alexandra Brigham
18:17.3
142.6
OAA Red 3
Clintonwood Park
21-Oct
10
Alexandra Brigham
19:57.6
146.8
9 Anchor Bay
Anchor Bay HS
29-Oct
10
Alexandra Brigham
18:34.1
145.6
D1 State
MIS
6-Nov
10
Alexandra Brigham
18:19.3
151.2
MMOC
Shepherd HS
13-Nov
Grade
Name
Rating
Meet
Course
Date
9
Alexandra Brigham
134.3
Clarkston/Troy
Clintonwood Park
18-Sep
9
Alexandra Brigham
135.1
Clarkston/Seaholm
Clintonwood Park
25-Sep
9
Alexandra Brigham
132.8
Clarkston/Lake Orion
Clintonwood Park
30-Sep
9
Alexandra Brigham
133.3
Canton/Clarkston
Willow
3-Oct
9
Alexandra Brigham
134.5
Oakland County
Kensington
10-Oct
9
Alexandra Brigham
136.3
OAA Red Championship
Bloomer Park
15-Oct
9
Alexandra Brigham
134.0
PR 14
Clintonwood Park
23-Oct
9
Alexandra Brigham
136.2
D1 Reg 7
Clintonwood Park
30-Oct
9
Alexandra Brigham
141.6
D1 State
MIS
6-Nov
Braydon entered Freeland as one of “those” freshman, the ones that are pegged for success
Sometimes those are the most difficult, saddled with high expectations, unneeded pressure, and a chance that they grow loathing the sport
That definitely has not been the case, as we see Braydon explore new avenues, gain trophies in all sorts of events
Early in his career, these came on the grass, where he racked up a Saginaw County title, TVC Overall title, two Regional Championships, and two All-States
Even more impressive, his 2020 season began late
Injury hindered his cross country season as a junior, although he admirably competed through much of the latter half of the season
But then in track, he found success in the mid-distance, breaking 4:20, grabbing an All-State in the 800m
We know from the past that Braydon has the 5k chops, now adding greater turnover to the mix?
I’m ready and excited to find out where that leads
No course map, hardly much history. Looking back over the past few years, there have been a couple meets a year held here. Many of them are of the SW10 variety, small jamborees that I haven’t rated. The others are the Bangor Invite, held in late September. The rating at the 2021 Bangor Invite was +11. With another month left going towards Regionals, I’ll assume this course runs fast. A look at the terrain on Google Maps shows nothing in the way of hills. I did start checking out Bangor’s downtown, which is bigger than what I had imagined. On the outskirts of downtown sits this colorful caboose:
Maybe if you win, you can take a pic with the trophy in front of the caboose.
This SW Michigan is a cradle of former champions. Saugatuck has captured four in the past decade, spanning both the Division 3 and 4 ranks. Bridgman’s girls captured my heart on their path to a 2019 victory, and I swore Kalamazoo Christian had won one – apparently my long-term memory is lacking, they’ve finished 2nd the past two years. Either way, all three teams are here in Division 3, hoping to make that same magic.
Top 25 Boys Teams: Kalamazoo Christian (12th), Bridgman (21st)
Top 25 Girls Teams: Kalamazoo Christian (12th), Schoolcraft (22nd)
Just a little rundown of those in the top-15 that haven’t been mentioned in the 50 Tickets (Mr. Winter), the Top Tens, and aren’t freshmen (you’ll get your day, Alina). Many of these are just scouring athleticnet (note – if you have a kid you want to brag about, reach out, tell me their story), but it’s more attention paid than many publications, it helps me learn names, and most of all – GETS ATTENTION TOWARDS KIDS THAT DESERVE IT.
Boden Genovese, Coloma: Dropped a sub-18 in his third HS race, hasn’t looked back since. Placed 63rd at MIS as a freshman, halved that as a sophomore, can he half that one more time en route to an All-State finish?
Jaden Barnes, Bloomingdale: Made his presence known in early October with a 16:25 at Otsego, a month later, he grabbed his first All-State. One of what I assume to be many.
Ethan Glick, Constantine: Was a 3200m workhorse this past spring, qualifying for State and hitting a 10:13 at one point.
Isaac Bogard, Kalamazoo Christian: Snuck under 17:00 in his All-State run last year. Can he repeat the feat in a higher division?
Joe Stocchiero, Bloomingdale: It’s been a career full of great gains. 19:57 as a freshman to 17:09 as a junior. 2021 contained his first individual qualifier, he took advantage of that the following week with a 40th place finish.
John Sanderson, Bridgman: Has placed top-10 here each of the past two years and appears well-positioned to make it a third.
Charlie Stormer, Saugatuck: During the 2021 track season, he only had one 3200m race that was sub-12. A year later, four of his final six races were sub-11.
Logan Weis, Centreville: Tendency to bring it late in the season. Sub-18 at Regionals in cross, sub-5 and sub-11 late in track.
Nick Mitchell, Kalamazoo Christian: Top-5 in each of his past two races at this stage. Division 3 now compared to Division 4, but still in the running to attain that feat based on his high-17’s from 2021.
Andrew Mabry, Bridgman: Established a firm footing in the long sprints/mid-D during track. 54.4 opener in the 400m, 2:16 closer in the 800m.
Eddy Granados, Coloma: Freshman year contained it all: State appearance, quick times, and establishing himself as one of the better up and coming runners in Berrien County.
Kendra Koster, Lawton: Sickness derailed her chance at glory last fall, the correct amount of cautiousness regarding injury did the same this spring. The lack of State-level medals shouldn’t take away from the tremendous progress she made in her sophomore season. Ran in the low-19’s for much of the year, then 5:19/11:27 in track. As good a candidate as any for ANOTHER breakout.
Autumn Major, Centreville: After a year hiatus, Autumn was back at it again in 2021, still running in the 20’s, but this time qualifying for State.
Madeline Young, Buchanan: Freshman piled up BCS Conference trophies this past year. One in cross, two on the track.
Alaina Klooster, Kalamazoo Christian: By November, Alaina was the quickest girl on a Kalamazoo Christian crew that finished 2nd at D4 State.
Camryn Brown, Coloma: No more Ava Genovese? No problem, as Camryn has showed she’s more than ready to step into Coloma’s top role. Hit a 12 second personal best in the 3200m this spring.
Lydia Kruis, Comstock: Junior year contained a massive PB and her third consecutive top-10 here in Region 22.
Angel Miller, Parchment: Track season showed signs of potential, where she reached 5:44 in the 1600m.
Caley Kerwin, Schoolcraft: First time State qualifier as a junior! Caley took advantage of that opportunity, wasn’t just happy to make it, and proved she belonged with a sub-21 in Brooklyn.
Aubrey Herder, Kalamazoo Christian: Two consecutive top-5 finishes in the SAC and at Regionals. Can she keep the streak alive?
Annika Sytsma, Kalamazoo Christian: Has made little bits of progress in each year. As a junior, ran her fastest at State, and as a result, had her best placing.
Ariana Pillot, Schoolcraft: Freshman year had some ups and downs, but Ariana ended it on a high note, with 3rd place finishes in the 800m & 1600m at the SAC Championship.
Clara Fast, Bridgman: Steady forward progress as always from this one. Got down under 21:00 towards the end of the fall, broke 6:00 and 13:00 this spring. Signs of more improvements to come.
Is it me or is the Traverse City area just loaded with talent this year?
Bauer, Muha, Central girls, St. Francis girls, now Jonah
I think this is always the case, but wow
Just as Joe Muha, Jonah had a breakout race at Bluejay in October of his sophomore year, a 16:17, at that point a 20+ second personal best
A month later, he used the confidence gained from Shepherd into a 16:27 at MIS, the 7th fastest sophomore in Division 1
Those cross country breakouts were nothing compared to what he’s been able to accomplish in the past three seasons
His sophomore year on the cinders, he was able to whittle his 1600m time down to 4:28
His junior year on the same surface, he began to dig in his heels at the mid-distances, sprinting to 1:54/4:21, that 1:54 gaining Jonah a 5th place finish at State
And in cross, showing incredible range, multiple sub-16’s and another All-State honor
Beyond Benne and Seth, many spots are up for grabs, and Jonah is as good a candidate as any to place extremely high at State
Grade
Name
Time
Rating
Meet
Course
Date
11
Jonah Hochstetler
15:58.1
203.0
Pete Moss
Benzie Central HS
28-Aug
11
Jonah Hochstetler
15:42.5
200.2
Northwood
Fisher Trails
11-Sep
11
Jonah Hochstetler
16:34.1
189.3
Petoskey
Petoskey MS
25-Sep
11
Jonah Hochstetler
15:43.2
204.6
Bluejay
Shepherd HS
2-Oct
11
Jonah Hochstetler
16:07.6
200.1
Portage
Portage West MS
9-Oct
11
Jonah Hochstetler
16:35.3
195.9
Big North Conference
Petoskey MS
19-Oct
11
Jonah Hochstetler
15:55.7
195.1
Northern Michigan
Michaywe Pines GC
23-Oct
11
Jonah Hochstetler
17:04.2
195.6
2 Delta
Delta College
30-Oct
11
Jonah Hochstetler
15:49.8
201.4
D1 State
MIS
6-Nov
11
Jonah Hochstetler
16:10.6
195.5
MMOC
Shepherd HS
13-Nov
Grade
Name
Rating
Meet
Course
Date
10
Jonah Hochstetler
182.4
Pete Moss
Benzie Central HS
29-Aug
10
Jonah Hochstetler
178.7
Petoskey Twilight Classic
Petoskey MS
11-Sep
10
Jonah Hochstetler
183.6
Ludington
West Shore CC
19-Sep
10
Jonah Hochstetler
191.3
Petoskey
Petoskey MS
26-Sep
10
Jonah Hochstetler
190.6
Shepherd Bluejay
Shepherd HS
3-Oct
10
Jonah Hochstetler
175.2
Big North Conference
Petoskey MS
13-Oct
10
Jonah Hochstetler
184.6
PR 1
Grand Haven HS
23-Oct
10
Jonah Hochstetler
180.6
D1 Reg 1
Buckley HS
31-Oct
10
Jonah Hochstetler
188.5
D1 State
MIS
6-Nov
Grade
Name
Rating
Meet
Course
9
Jonah Hochstetler
153.5
Pete Moss
Benzie Central
9
Jonah Hochstetler
163.9
Lancer
Stratford Woods
9
Jonah Hochstetler
153.8
Linden Classic
Linden HS
9
Jonah Hochstetler
170.2
Portage
Portage West MS
9
Jonah Hochstetler
164.3
Big North Conference
Gaylord CC
9
Jonah Hochstetler
173.0
Northern Michigan
Michaywe Pines GC
Maya entered high school cross country with a dream season
Late in her freshman year, she conquered the Portage course in a personal best of 18:33, won at OK Black and Ottawa County, then captured an All-State honor
With no chance to show that talent come track, the momentum was lost
Her sophomore year had success in the OK Red (toughest conference in Michigan?) and a state qualifier, but wasn’t to that level of her freshman fall
But last fall and into this winter, you could see the signs of rebirth, regrowth
Two sub-19’s, at OK Red and Regionals, her OK Red placing her best yet
In the winter, running relays with the West Michigan Harriers crew, an easy team to root for
Come spring, those glimpses gave way to real times
A sub-11 in a late April dual against Hudsonville
Three days later, 5:00 on the dot at the Grand Rapids Elite Challenge
And then to close May, a 2:14 at Distance Night
That sub-11 eventually became a 10:49 and portends well for cross country, where she’s ready to continue her journey back to the podium in Brooklyn
