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50 Tickets to Brooklyn: Girls #2

mixcspeedratings

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

Accomplishments & Accolades

  • 800m – 2:15
  • 1600m – 4:51
  • 3200m – 10:21
  • 5k (XC) – 17:29

  • 5th Place – D1 State
  • 14th Place – 2023
  • 8th Place – Foot Locker Midwest
  • 20th Place – Foot Locker Nationals
  • 2nd Place – Region 2
    • 2022 Champion
  • 2nd Place – D1 State 3200m
  • 3rd Place – D1 State 1600m
  • SVL & Region 1 1600/3200m Champion

Ratings Throughout the Years

GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
11Victoria Garces17:29.1Midland Dow165.0Division 1 State4-Nov2023
11Victoria Garces18:28.6Midland Dow144.5Region 227-Oct2023
11Victoria Garces18:29.6Midland Dow151.5Northwood9-Sep2023
11Victoria Garces17:45.7Midland Dow163.1Oiler1-Sep2023
11Victoria Garces18:07.0Midland Dow163.7Under the Lights18-Aug2023
GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
10Victoria Garces18:05.1Midland Dow149.6MITCA12-Nov2022
10Victoria Garces18:21.2Midland Dow151.9Division 1 State5-Nov2022
10Victoria Garces18:22.9Midland Dow144.4Region 228-Oct2022
10Victoria Garces18:40.6Midland Dow138.1SVL Championship19-Oct2022
10Victoria Garces18:40.6Midland Dow139.5Freeland Falcon15-Oct2022
10Victoria Garces19:55.0Midland Dow132.3Heritage8-Oct2022
10Victoria Garces18:13.5Midland Dow151.2Bluejay1-Oct2022
10Victoria Garces18:38.6Midland Dow146.1SVL North 227-Sep2022
10Victoria Garces18:15.4Midland Dow147.2Cadillac24-Sep2022
10Victoria Garces19:18.8Midland Dow137.7Holly17-Sep2022
10Victoria Garces18:44.3Midland Dow144.9SVL North 113-Sep2022
10Victoria Garces19:09.1Midland Dow137.0Northwood10-Sep2022
10Victoria Garces19:01.6Midland Dow145.1Oiler2-Sep2022

The Rundown

Adaptability to changing circumstances.

Victoria spent her freshman year in Wisconsin, placing 9th in Wisconsin’s D1 XC Finals. Although there were two other freshmen girls ahead of her, the opportunity surely lied to etch her name in Badger State history.

Following that freshman year, change. An exciting one, according to Garces. Others may have left otherwise, having pity for themselves, finding excuses to not run well that season.

Victoria performed just the opposite feat, lowering her personal best, embracing her new teammates, taking hold over the mid-Michigan scene with SVL & Region 2 titles, then finally giving her best effort of the year at State.

Early on last fall, signs were apparent that Garces had improved on the runner she was as a sophomore. More than a minute faster at the Oiler Invite, sub-18 equivalents there and Under the Lights. Then, change. Injury. Some might shut it down for the year, quit, perhaps rightfully so.

Again, Victoria chose the opposite route. Patiently wait to come back, returning at Regionals to help her Dow teammates move onto State. Ripping the bandage fully off at State, running a 17:29 for 5th place.

What will life and running throw at her in 2024? Anything that comes, she’ll handle.

Uncategorized

50 Tickets to Brooklyn: Boys #2

mixcspeedratings

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

Accomplishments & Accolades

  • 800m – 1:53
  • 1600m – 4:14
  • 3200m – 9:01
  • 5k (XC) – 15:13

  • 4th Place – D2 State
  • 2x All-State
  • Region 12 Champion
    • 3x Top-20
  • I-8 Conference Champion
    • 3x Top-5
  • 4th Place – D2 State 1600m
  • D2 State 4×8 Champion
  • Region 15 1600/3200m Champion
  • I-8 800/1600m Champion

Ratings Throughout the Years

GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
11Jack Bidwell15:13.0Marshall209.7Division 2 State4-Nov2023
11Jack Bidwell15:51.0Marshall206.3Region 1228-Oct2023
11Jack Bidwell15:41.5Marshall195.2I-8 Championship21-Oct2023
11Jack Bidwell15:43.6Marshall209.8Gabriel Richard14-Oct2023
11Jack Bidwell15:20.0Marshall201.3Stockbridge30-Sep2023
11Jack Bidwell15:57.1Marshall206.6Holly16-Sep2023
11Jack Bidwell15:47.3Marshall204.9Bath9-Sep2023
11Jack Bidwell15:31.0Marshall199.7Barney Roy29-Aug2023
11Jack Bidwell16:56.3Marshall204.6Big Hill22-Aug2023
11Jack Bidwell16:03.5Marshall204.8Under the Lights18-Aug2023
GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
10Jack Bidwell16:20.1Marshall194.3Division 2 State5-Nov2022
10Jack Bidwell16:25.3Marshall187.2Region 1229-Oct2022
10Jack Bidwell16:27.6Marshall180.1I-8 Championship22-Oct2022
10Jack Bidwell16:19.0Marshall184.7Gabriel Richard15-Oct2022
10Jack Bidwell16:44.3Marshall175.2Calhoun County8-Oct2022
10Jack Bidwell16:42.8Marshall181.7I-8 24-Oct2022
10Jack Bidwell16:28.1Marshall176.3Stockbridge1-Oct2022
10Jack Bidwell16:27.7Marshall186.1Josh Lott24-Sep2022
10Jack Bidwell16:45.6Marshall183.5I-8 113-Sep2022
10Jack Bidwell16:53.5Marshall184.2Bath10-Sep2022
10Jack Bidwell17:16.4Marshall182.2Springport7-Sep2022
10Jack Bidwell16:58.2Marshall184.6Barney Roy30-Aug2022
10Jack Bidwell17:19.9Marshall180.0Laingsburg Early Burg26-Aug2022
GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
9Jack Bidwell17:10.2Marshall170.9Region 1330-Oct2021
9Jack Bidwell16:27.4Marshall173.2I-823-Oct2021
9Jack Bidwell17:22.1Marshall165.6Gabriel Richard16-Oct2021
9Jack Bidwell17:42.5Marshall168.8I-8 26-Oct2021
9Jack Bidwell17:31.0Marshall160.0Webberville Spartan25-Sep2021
9Jack Bidwell18:19.3Marshall155.9Bath11-Sep2021
9Jack Bidwell19:37.6Marshall129.5Laingsburg Early Burg27-Aug2021
9Jack Bidwell21:57.7Marshall111.8Three Rivers Big Hill24-Aug2021
9Jack Bidwell19:30.0Marshall138.3Portage EB20-Aug2021

The Rundown

19:30
21:57
19:37

Jack’s career at Marshall started as many might. Inconsistent, struggling on the adverse courses, yet still a good start for any 9th grader. What has transpired these past three years has been beyond anyone’s wildest expectations.

He’s surely reset expectations at Marshall and has left many wondering what his next step may be, because this progression is shocking.

By the end of that freshman year, Jack had turned into a youngster capable of running in the low-17’s (and a 16:27 at the typically fast Turkeyville), then handed in a track season that further cemented himself as one of the better young runners in this 2025 class, his 4:34 1600m ranking #5 amongst that year’s freshman.

A sophomore year saw more climbs forward. This past year is when Bidwell truly put it into overdrive. According to this very informative Battle Creek Enquirer article, Redhawk cross records were shattered seven times this fall. The track record board is also full of his surname, as he holds records from the 800m to the 3200m. Time-wise, he does his thing, though his true talent comes when challenged. We saw this in the D2 State 4×8, where Jack received the rock three seconds back of first, trailing Forest Hills Eastern, DeWitt, and Frankenmuth – all prominent and speedy D2 programs. 110.8 seconds later, he’d cross the line in first, winning by more than 2 seconds. When pressed, we get a glimpse of the places he can go.

I agree with Jack, you’re inspiring. To all Marshall athletes in a tough spot in a competition, to all future Redhawks shooting for records, and to all those 19 minute kids who should never give up hope.

Uncategorized

50 Tickets to Brooklyn: Girls #3

mixcspeedratings

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

Accomplishments & Accolades

  • 800m – 2:16
  • 1600m – 4:51
  • 3200m – 10:20
  • 5k (XC) – 16:47

  • 11th Place – D1 State
  • 2022 Champion
  • 3x All-State
  • 2nd Place – Region 1
    • 3x Top-2
  • 4th Place – D1 State 1600m
  • 5th Place – D1 State 3200m
  • D1 State 4×8 Champion
  • 6x All-State (Track)

Ratings Throughout the Years

GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
11Helen Sachs18:17.7Holland West Ottawa148.8Division 1 State4-Nov2023
11Helen Sachs18:38.1Holland West Ottawa140.0Region 128-Oct2023
11Helen Sachs19:57.5Holland West Ottawa114.9OK Red Conference19-Oct2023
GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
10Helen Sachs17:18.7Holland West Ottawa172.8Division 1 State5-Nov2022
10Helen Sachs17:01.8Holland West Ottawa177.4Region 129-Oct2022
10Helen Sachs17:06.0Holland West Ottawa169.3OK Red Conference20-Oct2022
10Helen Sachs17:03.0Holland West Ottawa175.3Portage8-Oct2022
10Helen Sachs17:32.8Holland West Ottawa169.1OK Red 24-Oct2022
10Helen Sachs17:21.3Holland West Ottawa168.9Otsego Bulldog1-Oct2022
10Helen Sachs17:01.6Holland West Ottawa173.1OK Red 120-Sep2022
10Helen Sachs17:15.8Holland West Ottawa181.1Spartan16-Sep2022
10Helen Sachs17:22.6Holland West Ottawa178.1Bredeweg10-Sep2022
10Helen Sachs17:17.0Holland West Ottawa176.3Under the Lights v226-Aug2022
GradeNameTimeTeamRatingMeetDateYear
9Helen Sachs17:48.1Holland West Ottawa161.0Division 1 State6-Nov2021
9Helen Sachs18:39.0Holland West Ottawa141.0Region 329-Oct2021
9Helen Sachs17:30.0Holland West Ottawa161.3OK Red Conference21-Oct2021
9Helen Sachs17:26.1Holland West Ottawa175.3Portage9-Oct2021
9Helen Sachs18:13.3Holland West Ottawa158.6OK Red 25-Oct2021
9Helen Sachs17:27.8Holland West Ottawa170.4Otsego Bulldog2-Oct2021
9Helen Sachs17:36.8Holland West Ottawa159.4OK Red 121-Sep2021
9Helen Sachs17:48.5Holland West Ottawa173.8Spartan17-Sep2021
9Helen Sachs17:55.5Holland West Ottawa166.5Bredeweg11-Sep2021
9Helen Sachs18:40.0Holland West Ottawa156.3Under the Lights (GRSC)27-Aug2021
9Helen Sachs17:56.0Holland West Ottawa171.3Portage EB20-Aug2021

The Rundown

She’s not back, she’s better.

The last time Helen completed a full season of cross country, she left MIS with a state title. Hard to be much better than that, but she is. In her own words, Helen describes it perfectly:

Fed Up

Holland Sentinel

Wonderfully written and genuine quotes.

What I can tell you is that Helen was certainly better in 2024. Her track season consisted of faster times and higher accomplishments than she’s ever attained on the oval.

I’ve always considered her more of an endurance runner than a speedster. In 2022, she had one of the better freshman track campaigns you’ll see, especially in the longer distances. Two years later, she moved her 1600m best from 4:52 to 4:51 and her 3200m best from 10:26 to 10:20. The 800m had even more drops, from 2:19 to 2:16.

Victories were the real difference. Whereas her freshman version didn’t win a single individual race during championship season, her junior version hit the tape first in six of those races. Regionals, OK Red, and MITCA. Coming back to the 800m, her time drop was especially important at State, receiving the stick in first, holding off a Rachel Forsyth who was sure to be bearing down on her.

Better.