I’ll just say this: having Northville’s depth is intimidating enough, pairing that depth with two young, yet experienced frontrunners will be devastating to much of their competition
The numbers here have Ella and Cassie right next to each other, less than a second apart, and their accomplishments bear that out
During championship cross country races, their times were nearly identical
Wayne County: 19:20 for Ella, 19:24 for Cassie
KLAA: 18:51.8 for each
State: 18:52 for Cassie, 18:54 for Ella
Meet of Champions: 19:03 for Ella, 19:05 for Cassie
Ella didn’t show up in high school an absolute superstar, it’s taken some work to get there
Prior to October of her freshman year, she hadn’t broken 20:00 in a race
Since then, over 75% of her races have been sub-20
During track, she was able to show off some mid-distance ability, breaking 5:00 in the 1600m (which in our insane state environment, “only” placed 15th), and sprinting to a 2:19.5 in the 800m
Despite the above talk of her teammates, don’t ignore her individual accomplishments, they will be plenty in the coming years
Grade
Name
Time
Rating
Meet
Course
Date
10
Ella Christensen
20:23.9
123.0
Lamplighter
Ford Field
20-Aug
10
Ella Christensen
19:45.3
128.6
Pete Moss
Benzie Central HS
28-Aug
10
Ella Christensen
19:12.9
134.4
Ramblin’ Rock
Willow
11-Sep
10
Ella Christensen
19:58.2
130.6
Spartan
Forest Akers
17-Sep
10
Ella Christensen
19:25.0
138.7
Mott Fall Classic
Hess Hathaway
24-Sep
10
Ella Christensen
19:07.6
136.1
DeWitt
DeWitt HS
2-Oct
10
Ella Christensen
19:20.4
137.2
Wayne County
Willow
9-Oct
10
Ella Christensen
19:36.8
144.1
Freeland Falcon
Freeland
16-Oct
10
Ella Christensen
18:51.8
140.4
KLAA Championship
Huron Meadows
21-Oct
10
Ella Christensen
19:32.6
134.8
6 Hudson Mills
Hudson Mills (North)
30-Oct
10
Ella Christensen
18:54.0
139.0
D1 State
MIS
6-Nov
10
Ella Christensen
19:03.3
136.6
MMOC
Shepherd HS
13-Nov
Grade
Name
Rating
Meet
Course
Date
9
Ella Christensen
105.9
Northville/Salem
Willow
12-Sep
9
Ella Christensen
110.0
Canton/Northville
Cass Benton
16-Sep
9
Ella Christensen
102.4
Northville/Pioneer
Pioneer HS
23-Sep
9
Ella Christensen
116.0
Northville/Plymouth
Cass Benton
29-Sep
9
Ella Christensen
118.6
Hansons
Freedom Hill
3-Oct
9
Ella Christensen
113.0
Brighton/Northville
Huron Meadows
6-Oct
9
Ella Christensen
120.0
West Ottawa
Riverside Park
10-Oct
9
Ella Christensen
123.7
KLAA
Huron Meadows
17-Oct
9
Ella Christensen
114.3
PR 15
Novi HS
24-Oct
9
Ella Christensen
115.0
D1 Reg 8
Chandler Park
30-Oct
9
Ella Christensen
122.3
D1 State
MIS
6-Nov
You could see the inklings during the 2021 track season, Braylon’s freshman year
His 1600m ranked 6th amongst all 9th graders, his 3200, 12th
Those rankings don’t mean squat when a new season comes along, unless you’re Mr. Petty, then they’re just an obvious part of the story
His coming out party on the cross course came at Huron Meadows in late August, where he ran 16:32, nearly a 20 second PR
That early season breakout gave way to a season where he was sub-17 in the rest of his races (after being below that mark once as a freshman)
Those fast times led to numerous honors, top-10’s at every single race, up there in high-profile meets such as Cougar Falcon, Otsego Bulldog, along with all the championship competitions
And as he always does, cross was built on into track, where his 9:39 ranks 12th for anyone that was a sophomore and younger
Just as Ella and Cassie for Northville, Braylon will join Aidan Smith as another pair of teammates as low sticks in the D2 ranks
During the latter half of last October, rainy day after rainy day swamped many courses around Southeast Michigan. The North Course at Hudson Mills had mudpits in the woods, the swampy Algonac and Anchor Bay areas were swampy, Willow couldn’t even host, and Huron Meadows ran as fair as it normally runs.
Is it the higher ground? Firm footing? Good drainage? Magic evaporation of the Brighton area? Who knows, but what one can expect as a runner is a flat track in the open areas and a bit of rolling terrain in the woods. As a spectator or coach, one can expect to see their favorite athletes at least 5 times if not more. Just be sure to get there early with only one entrance to the park.
Expect to see times consistent with what one would run at State.
2021 Boys: Madison Heights Bishop Foley (24th), University Liggett (27th), Memphis (29th), Almont (28th)
2021 Girls: University Liggett (23rd), Madison Heights Bishop Foley (28th), Clawson (26th)
This has historically been one of the “weaker” regions. But as someone who works in the area of many schools up this way, let me explain. Schools comprising Region 26 are usually in a concrete jungle, nowhere near any hills, and aren’t of affluence. You generally need at least 2 of those attributes for cross country success. Add in soccer’s influence on many Oakland/Macomb County schools, and you’ll see low numbers for those in Division 3. Is that an excuse? No, just a reality.
Anyhow, it’s been a weaker regional and to balance that out, Stockbridge and Dansville were added into the mix. Stockbridge’s boys were 13th in Division 3 last year, their girls were qualifiers in 2020. Dansville has been all over the place, switching Divisions each of the past three years. Down in D4 last year, their boys were 15th and they return their top three from that squad.
Top 25 Boys Teams: Dansville (25th)
Top 25 Girls Teams: None
Theodore Davis, Dansville: Under the radar as one of the better freshmen in the State last year. His 10:07 in track was the 11th fastest amongst 9th graders.
Micah Bolton, Stockbridge: Top runner on a Stockbridge team that finished 13th last year. Made a tremendous leap late in the track season, running a 20 second PR in the 3200 to close the year.
Collin Cook, Stockbridge: The other top returner from Stockbridge, has finished top-10 at Regionals twice.
Max Mader, Madison Heights Bishop Foley: Found his groove this past spring in the mid-distances, eventually reaching down to 2:03 in the 800m come State time.
Joseph Kadluboski, Dansville: Each of his three XC seasons he’s been in the 17’s. Is this primed to be his best season yet? Looking at that 1600m from this spring, it could be.
Michael Darlington, University Liggett: Over 50% of his races during his freshman year were sub-19.
Damian DeFeyter, Dansville: As with Joe Kadluboski, has found a way to be sub-18 in each of his three seasons.
Ethan Wright, Stockbridge: Set a 7 second PR in the 800m this spring, that time drop good enough for 6th at the GLAC Championship.
Calvin Vanhartesvelt, Dansville: Dropped 15+ seconds on his personal best from 2020 to 2021, but more importantly, qualified for State with his fellow Dansville harriers.
Anthony Urbaniak, Charyl Stockwell Academy: Race after race in May was just a personal best after personal best, finally ending up at 2:18/11:09.
Kolbe Martino, Madison Heights Bishop Foley: Was able to sneak under 19:00 in his first year of high school cross.
Ray Shumaker, Charyl Stockwell Academy: Has knocked 2+ minutes off his bests from his freshman year.
Sebastian Beskow, Charyl Stockwell Academy: Stayed on the high side of 19:00 but was able to improve by a minute from his freshman year.
Kerith Short, University Liggett: Very successful freshman year included top-3 finishes at Regionals and CHSL C/D.
Penelope Griffoen, University Liggett: Has been All-Region in each of her three seasons.
Anna Ransom, Stockbridge: Went from 25:29 as an opener to 21:47 as a closer.
Josephine Malysz, Madison Heights Bishop Foley: Freshman year included an 11th place regional finish and a few sub-23’s.
Carmellina Biafora, Madison Heights Bishop Foley: Two consecutive appearances at MIS for Carmellina, but 2021’s was 35 seconds quicker.
Kelsey Beckett, University Liggett: Improved from 12th here as a freshman to 9th as a sophomore.
Charlie Harms, Algonac: Dropped 3.5 minutes from her first meet to her last.
Savannah Ricketts, Charyl Stockwell Academy: Closed out her sophomore year with 6 straight races in the 23’s.
Fiona Sierens, University Liggett: All-Region as a freshman.
Julia Serra, Madison Heights Bishop Foley: Halved her place from Regionals as a freshman. 25th two years ago, 12th last year, this year…?
Haylee Byerly, Algonac: Another one on that gradual improvement curve. 26:00+ in her opener at Anchor Bay, sub-24 in her closer at MIS.
Emily Mandziuk, Madison Heights Bishop Foley: Championship experience, Emily has plenty of it. Top-25 in all three of her Regional races and two appearances in Brooklyn to go along with it.
I just love when athletes come of age in a sport and grow in places that aren’t necessarily traditional powers
Carter has come a long way in a few short years
As a freshman, his best mark was a sub-18:00 at the first Huron League Jamboree, a great mark for a freshman, but many All-State upperclassmen were much faster as freshman
That 17:59 became a 16:38 as a sophomore, which then became a 16:07 as a junior
His junior level led to many championships, the Huron League in cross, the 1600m, and 3200m
And during track, a 9:27 that’s a sure sign of sub-16 in the future
As a teammate, he was an integral member of the 2020 Jefferson squad that won their first conference title in nearly twenty years and
And coincidentally, a girls team poised to make noise at State
But is it a coincidence? I think not, when you’re dedicated to the sport, you’re an influence on others, and that attitude just builds on itself. Carter bleeds that dedication, and the Bears recent achievements have followed
Grade
Name
Time
Rating
Meet
Course
Date
11
Carter McCalister
16:07.2
193.3
Milan Puddle Jumper
Milan HS
31-Aug
11
Carter McCalister
16:44.5
193.2
Spartan
Forest Akers
17-Sep
11
Carter McCalister
17:10.2
183.6
Jefferson
Sterling State Park
25-Sep
11
Carter McCalister
16:19.5
188.5
Huron League 1
Milan HS
28-Sep
11
Carter McCalister
16:44.3
190.6
Huron League 2
Sterling State Park
5-Oct
11
Carter McCalister
16:25.5
194.2
Portage
Portage West MS
9-Oct
11
Carter McCalister
18:01.5
191.5
Dave Bork Classic
Munson Park
16-Oct
11
Carter McCalister
16:44.8
189.4
Huron League Championship
Willow
21-Oct
11
Carter McCalister
17:13.3
194.2
18 Lake Erie
Lake Erie
30-Oct
11
Carter McCalister
16:07.2
194.9
D2 State
MIS
6-Nov
Grade
Name
Rating
Meet
Course
Date
10
Carter McCalister
177.7
Dundee/FR/Jefferson
Jefferson HS
3-Sep
10
Carter McCalister
178.2
Huron League 1
Milan HS
22-Sep
10
Carter McCalister
174.0
Jefferson
Jefferson HS
26-Sep
10
Carter McCalister
173.0
Huron League 2
Jefferson HS
6-Oct
10
Carter McCalister
175.3
Huron League
Willow
16-Oct
10
Carter McCalister
174.1
PR 36
Milan HS
24-Oct
10
Carter McCalister
176.5
D2 Reg 18
Lake Erie
31-Oct
10
Carter McCalister
178.3
D2 State
MIS
6-Nov
Grade
Name
Rating
Meet
Course
9
Carter McCalister
146.3
Spartan
Forest Akers
9
Carter McCalister
147.3
Jefferson
Sterling State Park
9
Carter McCalister
149.9
Portage
Portage West MS
9
Carter McCalister
145.4
Dave Bork
Munson Park
Natalie’s been learning the trade from the magnificent, dearly departed Madelyn Frens, now it’s her turn to take over
And if her sophomore year is any indication, she’s more than ready to lead the Eagles in her own direction
As a freshman, she stepped up as the 3rd girl on a team that finished 3rd at D2 State, then carried on that stellar effort for her age with a track season where her times fell as low as 11:27 for the 3200m
Natalie moved up a spot on the GR Christian team in her sophomore season, and as she moved up spots, she rapidly moved down in terms of places and times
That 18:46 became an 18:12, that 33rd place at MIS became a 4th, that 4th place Regional 3200m became a 7th place State 3200m
The momentum just keeps on rolling, I can’t wait to see where it takes Natalie during her junior year
