Michigan XC Speed Ratings

Accomplishments & Accolades

5^th Place – LVC (XC)
10^th Place – Region 7 (XC)
19^th Place – Oakland County (XC)
10^th Place – Division 1 State 3200m
2^nd Place – LVC & Region 9 3200m
3^rd Place – Oakland County 3200m
#1 ranked Michigan freshman – 1600m

Ratings Throughout the Years

Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet	Date
9	Kyle O’Rourke	17:33.6	Highland-Milford	187.1	Milford	1-Sep
9	Kyle O’Rourke	19:27.9	Highland-Milford	145.4	Averill	10-Sep
9	Kyle O’Rourke	16:24.7	Highland-Milford	191.1	Ottawa Hills	16-Sep
9	Kyle O’Rourke	16:57.9	Highland-Milford	187.0	Oakland County	8-Oct
9	Kyle O’Rourke	16:40.4	Highland-Milford	183.9	LVC Championship	20-Oct
9	Kyle O’Rourke	16:49.8	Highland-Milford	189.4	Region 7	28-Oct
9	Kyle O’Rourke	16:55.2	Highland-Milford	181.3	Division 1 State	5-Nov
9	Kyle O’Rourke	16:22.3	Highland-Milford	185.2	MITCA	12-Nov

The Rundown

At least twice, while creating the graphic and writing this, I wrote Ryan instead of Kyle. Kyle comes from great bloodlines, his older brother Ryan running in the low-16’s for the Maverick program. Without skipping a beat, the O’Rourke tradition has continued, Kyle establishing himself as one of the better (if not the best) young freshmen in the State. With many races on his docket at Possum Hollow, there were very little opportunities to rip a fast time, though more importantly, he contributed in terms of place, helping his team qualify for State, the only freshman to receive an All-County offer.

The speedy, flat track surface is where Kyle’s talent and Sal’s magic truly came together. Contained in his championship season were multiple sub-9:35 3200m efforts, along with a wondrous 4:23. Operating in a sea of upperclassmen, Kyle held his own in the heat at the Division 1 State Finals. One of only two freshmen (the other, Andrew Wright who won the NBON freshman 2 mile) competed, with Kyle placing 10^th. Taking that next step and holding his own with the state’s very best will pay dividends this upcoming fall.

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50 Tickets to Brooklyn: Girls #29

July 30, 2023July 30, 2023 mixcspeedratings

THE SUMMER PREVIEW

Accomplishments & Accolades

12^th Place – Division 2 State (XC)
SMAC Champion (XC)
3^rd Place – Region 13 (XC)
Region 3 800m Champion
SMAC 800m/1600m Champion
22^nd Place – Division 1 State 1600m

Ratings Throughout the Years

Grade	Name	Time	Team	Rating	Meet
11	Gail Vaikutis	20:15.2	St. Joseph	128.9	St. Joseph
11	Gail Vaikutis	19:37.6	St. Joseph	133.1	Harper Creek Optimist
11	Gail Vaikutis	19:22.6	St. Joseph	131.1	Lakeview
11	Gail Vaikutis	19:18.3	St. Joseph	131.9	Ottawa Hills
11	Gail Vaikutis	20:02.7	St. Joseph	127.4	SMAC West 1
11	Gail Vaikutis	18:28.8	St. Joseph	144.1	Cougar Falcon
11	Gail Vaikutis	19:05.1	St. Joseph	130.3	Berrien County
11	Gail Vaikutis	19:39.8	St. Joseph	124.4	SMAC West 2
11	Gail Vaikutis	18:39.7	St. Joseph	143.1	Portage
11	Gail Vaikutis	19:08.9	St. Joseph	132.4	Rock n Run
11	Gail Vaikutis	18:36.2	St. Joseph	145.3	SMAC Championship
11	Gail Vaikutis	18:54.5	St. Joseph	136.2	Region 13
11	Gail Vaikutis	18:56.3	St. Joseph	139.6	Division 2 State

The Rundown

Yes, all those accomplishments and times are contained within one year. After running for the 2020-21 season in Illinois, Gail moved to St. Joseph, quietly training and sitting out the year before unleashing her speed upon us Michiganders. Almost immediately she made an impact, her 18:28 at Cougar Falcon cementing that Gail would be a presence in Division Two and St. Joseph a team that could place highly in the division. By the end of the year, she racked up impressive honors at all of the championship meets, then lowered her personal best at Lavern Gibson. During the spring, Gail was more concentrated on the mid-distances, perhaps most impressively the 800m, where she won league and regional titles, then contributed to an 11^th place 4x800m (in a time that would’ve won D2, mind you). Once again, St. Joseph is quietly loaded and Gail will be a needed contributor.

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The Summer Previews: Division 3, Region 20

July 30, 2023July 30, 2023 mixcspeedratings

Last Year

SUMMER PREVIEW
MID-SEASON
FINAL PROJECTIONS
THE RESULT

Girls

Hart (4^th)
Benzie Central (7^th)
Remus Chippewa Hills (20^th)

Boys

Hart (State Champions)
Reed City (6^th)
Benzie Central (7^th)

Top 27 Teams

Previous years had top-25 teams, but there’s 27 (and sometimes more) team qualifiers and what does it hurt to add another two?

Girls

Hart (7^th), Reed City (9^th)

Boys

Hart (Top 5), Benzie Central (14^th), Remus Chippewa Hills (23^rd)

(If your team isn’t listed in the images above or the scores below, you probably don’t have five returners, at least on ol’ athletic.net. I’m sure many of these teams will fill out their rosters by late October)

Projected Scores

Place	Girls Team	Score
1	Hart	40
2	Benzie Central	75
3	Remus Chippewa Hills	106
4	McBain	136
5	Manistee	165
6	Mason County Central	191
7	Lakeview	198
8	Reed City	208
9	Lake City	217
10	Kingsley	218
11	Manton	244
12	Morley-Stanwood	254

Place	Boys Team	Score
1	Reed City	51
2	Hart	52
3	Manistee	135
4	Benzie Central	149
5	McBain	158
6	Lake City	184
7	Leroy Pine River	198
8	Remus Chippewa Hills	200
9	Hesperia	222
10	Kingsley	229
11	Manton	264
12	Morley-Stanwood	283
13	Mason County Central	315

Top Runners

Thought I’d give a review of some of the top returners in each region. Returners means no incoming freshman (you’ll get your days in the sun). If you’re on a top team or in the 50 Tickets and you’re projected highly here, you hit the jackpot! Yes, I’m writing a bit less than previous years, but I think I’ve learned my lesson in that I need to conserve energy and brainpower for all divisions and regions. Typically by August, I’m rushing to get these done. This time around, hopefully all regions get the same amount of coverage.

Jessica Jazwinski, Hart

Since there will be much writing about Jessica (and Alyson next) to come, I figured I’d recite some regional stats. In her young career thus far, she’s run two of them. Both wins, both in Region 20, once at Benzie and once here. Her 17:43 at Benzie was the first sub-18 of her career, a mark she hit 10+ times last year.

Alyson Enns, Hart

Just as Jessie, has been dominant at this regional scene. She was the 2020 winner and has been 2^nd twice. Having one low stick is a blessing, two is bountiful. More to be written later…

Mylie Kelly, Benzie Central

I promise you that summer road racing plays no role in these previews, but if it did, Mylie’s 18:26 at the Running Bear Run would portend well to the upcoming season. 2^nd overall female, right there with a girl who will be running varsity on a D1 squad this fall.

Miranda McNeil, Morley-Stanwood

Extremely accomplished in her three seasons thus far. Three All-States, three times top-10 here at Region 20. In terms of time, had her best close to the season yet, an 18:48 at Shepherd besting her previous record by 4 seconds.

Cecilia Postma, Manistee

Many accomplishments during her junior year – smashing through 20:00 for the first time (and then many more times), top-5 at Regionals, top-50 at State. Then in track, went on a late-season that nearly ended in a podium finish.

August Rohde, Reed City

I mentioned earlier that he took the sophomore leap. That’s even more evident during track, where his 1:56, 4:21, and 9:50 were egregious PR’s. They all led to titles or honors of some sort – the 800m won the CSAA, the 3200m won Team State, and the 1600m nabbed an All-State.

Bobby Jazwinski, Hart

His 4:34 running unattached this spring was really only matched by one middle school Michigander – Ben Romero.

Anthony Kiaunis, Reed City

I think the combination of the promise he showed in the early season (two 16:4x’s) plus the mile speed during later May will lead to a more fruitful championship season.

Ryan Allen, Reed City

Has finished in the top-15 at Region 20 during all three of his high school seasons. The 8^th spot last year was his best yet, followed up by a 31^st at MIS, also his best.