Ah, finally a new event category! The pole vaulters get their own, which they deserve. The event uses combination of strength, speed, agility, and most importantly – fearlessness. And it’s truly like no other. You’ll get a few crossovers with vaulters that sprint or jump (or if you’re Lilliane Aittama, you do every event), but for the most part, they do their own thing.
To review, these “best crews” were started last year to try to recognize the best teams in each event area, whether that’s the jumps here, or sprints or throws elsewhere. Last year’s version was more complex and relied on having three participants in each event. I’ve changed things a bit this year, mostly to ease the process on my end and have the ability to include more teams.
Here’s the process:
Over the winter, I created my own version of World Athletics Tables, but for Michigan athletes. These are based on times/marks from the 2022 Outdoor Season throughout the US. Their purpose is to compare across events. Here are the boys tables:
There are two guidelines for being included. Your mark has to be from this outdoor season and it has to be better than the Regional Additional Qualifying Mark. Marks from this season are taken from the athletic.net performance lists. There will likely be some instances where someone has run a time, but it’s not included on that list. I can’t help that! Please contact the necessary folks to get your name on there.
For each event, with a maximum of four athletes, those scores are added together. Then within a category, those events are added together. Relays are scaled to match their importance within a meet. Often, at the state level, teams score more points from a relay than they would with four individuals running that event, so they’re given a bit more importance here.
Both the boys and girls contain meets that were posted to athleticnet as of Tuesday Night. I went five deep on the images, ten deep on the charts, with a few ties for different spots.
Since this is the singular event in the event category, I’m experimenting with the writeups. First I’ll set a baseline with some basic facts about who’s returning, then try to find different stories building up towards the State Finals.
Just taking a glance at the meet schedules throughout the state over the next few days, there’s a good chance we’ll get some great efforts in the vault and hurdles. Hopeful to get those events analyzed and ranked this week.
To review, these “best crews” were started last year to try to recognize the best teams in each event area, whether that’s the jumps here, or sprints or throws elsewhere. Last year’s version was more complex and relied on having three participants in each event. I’ve changed things a bit this year, mostly to ease the process on my end and have the ability to include more teams.
Here’s the process:
Over the winter, I created my own version of World Athletics Tables, but for Michigan athletes. These are based on times/marks from the 2022 Outdoor Season throughout the US. Their purpose is to compare across events. Here are the tables:
There are two guidelines for being included. Your mark has to be from this outdoor season and it has to be better than the Regional Additional Qualifying Mark. Marks from this season are taken from the athletic.net performance lists. There will likely be some instances where someone has run a time, but it’s not included on that list. I can’t help that! Please contact the necessary folks to get your name on there.
For each event, with a maximum of four athletes, those scores are added together. Then within a category, those events are added together. Relays are scaled to match their importance within a meet. Often, at the state level, teams score more points from a relay than they would with four individuals running that event, so they’re given a bit more importance here.
Here’s an example of one of the better early season crews, the East Kentwood Boys high jumpers. The Falcons are always one of the more well-rounded teams in the State, 2023 looks to be no different.
Grade
Name
Team
Division
Height
Points
12
Nakia Willis
East Kentwood
1
6′ 0″
377
11
Elisee Kanda
East Kentwood
1
5′ 10″
349
12
Marshaun Flakes
East Kentwood
1
5′ 10″
349
These are from this season only, containing meets up until MONDAY and included on the athleticnet lists.
One of the better all-around athletes on one of the better teams is back for another round of it, hoping to help lead his Falcons to a State Title. At 2022’s MITCA Team State, Nakia Willis placed in the top-10 in the 110h, High Jump, and Long Jump, a major factor in their third place finish as a team. Already this year, he’s found new lengths in the Long Jump, hitting over 21’ on both of his early season meets. Over the previous two years, he’d been 21’+ only twice. A new dimension for someone capable of contributing to a team goal come early June.
Grade
Name
Team
Height/Dist.
Points
12
Nakia Willis
East Kentwood
21′ 9.75″
415
12
Nakia Willis
East Kentwood
6′ 0″
377
11
Elisee Kanda
East Kentwood
5′ 10″
349
12
Marshaun Flakes
East Kentwood
5′ 10″
349
D1 Rank
Team
High
Long
Score
1
East Kentwood
1075
415
1490
2
Canton
881
452
1333
3
Warren Cousino
405
400
805
4
Ypsilanti Lincoln
349
412
761
5
Northville
405
349
754
6
Fraser
377
361
738
7
Lansing Waverly
377
357
734
8
Portage Central
726
0
726
9
Caledonia
349
368
717
10
North Farmington
377
339
716
11
Holland West Ottawa
363
341
704
12
Dexter
349
352
701
13
St. Joseph
419
0
419
14
Battle Creek Lakeview
0
407
407
15
Oxford
405
0
405
16
Ann Arbor Skyline
0
401
401
17
Rockford
0
394
394
18
Zeeland East
391
0
391
19
Sterling Heights
0
391
391
20
Detroit Catholic Central
0
384
384
21
Grand Blanc
0
381
381
22
Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills
0
380
380
22
Grand Haven
0
380
380
24
Grosse Pointe South
377
0
377
24
Muskegon Reeths-Puffer
377
0
377
24
South Lyon
377
0
377
Funny how when you evaluate the jumpers, you get those multi-event kids who can handle pretty much anything. Ben Merkel is another one. In addition to his 6’2 High Jump (tied for the State Lead in D2), he contributed to Jefferson’s 4×2, 4×4, and long jumped to top it off. Look back to last year, he hurdled, he ran an 800. Back to that 6’2 though, it ties his personal best and is his second effort ever over 6’. I’m not sure what the future holds at the state level, but I know he’s the early favorite for the Huron League title.
Grade
Name
Team
Height/Dist.
Points
12
Gage Vanalstine
Charlotte
6′ 0″
377
12
Joe Davis
Charlotte
5′ 10″
349
12
Gage Vanalstine
Charlotte
19′ 8.5″
325
12
Kaeden Maynard
Charlotte
19′ 5.25″
314
11
Cutler Brandt
Charlotte
19′ 5″
313
D2 Rank
Team
High
Long
Score
1
Charlotte
726
951
1678
2
Whitehall
726
373
1099
3
Wayland Union
0
766
766
4
Pinckney
405
339
745
5
Ferndale University
0
744
744
6
Mason
349
391
740
7
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
0
733
733
8
Parma Western
405
327
732
9
Ortonville Brandon
335
352
687
10
Freeland
0
680
680
11
Corunna
0
434
434
12
Grand Rapids Catholic Central
405
0
405
12
Monroe Jefferson
405
0
405
12
Sturgis
405
0
405
15
Lake Fenton
377
0
377
15
Tecumseh
377
0
377
17
Hopkins
0
363
363
17
Milan
0
363
363
19
Three Rivers
363
0
363
20
Forest Hills Eastern
349
0
349
20
Ludington
349
0
349
20
Marshall
349
0
349
20
Richland Gull Lake
349
0
349
20
Shepherd
349
0
349
20
Stevensville Lakeshore
349
0
349
20
Wyoming Godwin Heights
349
0
349
20
Lake Odessa Lakewood
0
341
341
Even the best fail. Andrew Phillips failed at the 2022 Regionals, where he missed a state qualifier by an inch. Those failures are necessary on the road to success. His 21’9 season opener was the exact opposite of a failure. A school record by 6”, 1.5 feet longer than his regional leap, and the best mark in D3 thus far. Many early mornings, hour long winter drives, and intense dedication led to this. In over a month, lord willing and the creek don’t rise, he’ll get a chance to redeem those past failures.
Grade
Name
Team
Height/Dist.
Points
12
Shea Ruddy
Ottawa Lake-Whiteford
6′ 2″
405
11
Kolby Masserant
Ottawa Lake-Whiteford
20′ 2.5″
346
9
Mason DeBarr
Ottawa Lake-Whiteford
5′ 8″
321
D3 Rank
Team
High
Long
Score
1
Ottawa Lake-Whiteford
726
346
1073
2
Manton
349
412
761
3
Hillsdale
377
357
734
4
Durand
405
313
718
5
Montague
698
0
698
6
Quincy
321
362
683
7
Chesaning
335
316
651
8
Napoleon
0
640
640
9
Springport
321
318
639
10
Hart
321
290
610
11
Vassar
405
0
405
12
Grand Traverse Academy
377
0
377
12
Lakeview
377
0
377
14
Clare
0
359
359
15
Hudson
0
350
350
16
Clinton
349
0
349
16
Grandville Calvin Christian
349
0
349
16
Homer
349
0
349
16
Reed City
349
0
349
20
Saginaw Valley Lutheran
0
348
348
21
Delton-Kellogg
0
336
336
22
Harrison
0
334
334
23
Clintondale
0
327
327
24
Holland Black River
0
323
323
25
Bronson
321
0
321
25
Cass City
321
0
321
25
Ida
321
0
321
25
Schoolcraft
321
0
321
Top-8 marks, a Regional title in the Long Jump, all was set for Mekhi Wingfield to cause a scene at the 2022 D4 State Finals. Unfortunately, he was unable to compete and better his 3rd place Long Jump finish from his freshman year. Now in 2023, his early season marks have put D4 on notice. He’s high jumped 2” higher than his previous best, he’s hit 22’ for the first time ever. That long jump is quickly turning into a must-see event. Anthany Buford has already been over 22’ and you know Alex Affer ain’t giving up the crown that easily. June can’t come soon enough.
I really really really wanted to kick off Week Three with some hurdlers or vaulters, but there weren’t enough qualifying marks over the weekend to justify putting a list together. So we’ll start again with the jumpers and I’ll play it by ear with the hurdlers and vaulters. This warm weather should contribute mightily to fast times and towering heights.
To review, these “best crews” were started last year to try to recognize the best teams in each event area, whether that’s the jumps here, or sprints or throws elsewhere. Last year’s version was more complex and relied on having three participants in each event. I’ve changed things a bit this year, mostly to ease the process on my end and have the ability to include more teams.
Here’s the process:
Over the winter, I created my own version of World Athletics Tables, but for Michigan athletes. These are based on times/marks from the 2022 Outdoor Season throughout the US. Their purpose is to compare across events. Here are the boys tables:
There are two guidelines for being included. Your mark has to be from this outdoor season and it has to be better than the Regional Additional Qualifying Mark. Marks from this season are taken from the athletic.net performance lists. There will likely be some instances where someone has run a time, but it’s not included on that list. I can’t help that! Please contact the necessary folks to get your name on there.
For each event, with a maximum of four athletes, those scores are added together. Then within a category, those events are added together. Relays are scaled to match their importance within a meet. Often, at the state level, teams score more points from a relay than they would with four individuals running that event, so they’re given a bit more importance here.
Here’s an example of one of the better early season crews, the Detroit Renaissance long jump girls, who are scarily contributing to a more well-rounded squad in addition to their sprint dominance:
Grade
Name
Distance
Team
Points
Team Score
10
Celeste Davis
16′ 8.5″
Detroit Renaissance
385
1095
12
Martia Williams
16′ 1.5″
Detroit Renaissance
361
11
Kristen Lavergne
15′ 10″
Detroit Renaissance
349
These are from this season only, containing meets up until SATURDAY.
If there’s ever a heptathlete candidate for the future, it’s Margaret Monaghan. The Port Huron Northern senior can do it all – hurdle, throw, sprint, high jump, long jump. It’s hard to tell what her best event is yet in 2023! All her marks at Davison’s Shake off the Rust Invite rank in the top-5 in the State. What will the future hold? Margaret was 4th in the D1 Long Jump, with the top 2 places graduating. That may be her best shot at a trophy, but I wouldn’t put anything past her.
D1 Rank
Team
Long
High
Team Score
1
Port Huron Northern
778
401
1179
2
Zeeland East
368
745
1113
3
Saline
783
324
1107
4
Detroit Renaissance
1095
0
1095
5
Macomb Dakota
1084
0
1084
6
Lake Orion
344
649
993
7
Rockford
340
497
837
8
Portage Central
732
0
732
9
Utica
370
324
694
10
Grand Rapids Kenowa Hills
0
687
687
11
Livonia Stevenson
349
324
673
12
Grandville
0
440
440
13
Woodhaven-Brownstown
418
0
418
14
Salem
0
401
401
15
Holland
0
382
382
16
Jackson
378
0
378
17
Zeeland West
364
0
364
18
Holland West Ottawa
363
0
363
18
Ann Arbor Skyline
0
363
363
18
Flint Carman-Ainsworth
0
363
363
18
St. Clair Shores Lakeview
0
363
363
18
Troy Athens
0
363
363
23
East Kentwood
345
0
345
23
Novi
345
0
345
25
North Farmington
344
0
344
After a season full of 15’s and a few 16’s, Brielle Reason jumped out of her mind at the 2022 Regionals. Her 17’5 leap gave her a regional championship and added to the confidence needed to place 4th at D2 State. She’ll be battling a field full of returners, but she’s already shown to be in peak form, her 17’5.25” in Novi is the second-best mark in the state in 2023.
D2 Rank
Team
Long
High
Total
1
Parma Western
357
649
1006
2
Hastings
713
286
999
3
Charlotte
328
649
976
4
Otsego
343
572
915
5
Macomb Lutheran North
0
745
745
6
Stevensville Lakeshore
342
382
724
7
Pinckney
416
305
721
8
Allendale
349
363
711
9
Gladwin
371
324
696
10
Belding
0
687
687
10
Tecumseh
0
687
687
12
Mason
349
324
673
13
Adrian
0
649
649
14
Forest Hills Eastern
0
610
610
15
Hopkins
314
286
600
16
Spring Lake
0
591
591
17
Saginaw Swan Valley
0
572
572
18
Edwardsburg
0
382
382
19
Wayland Union
364
0
364
20
Lake Fenton
0
363
363
20
Whitehall
0
363
363
22
Big Rapids
358
0
358
23
Clio
343
0
343
24
Chelsea
338
0
338
25
Middleville Thornapple-Kellogg
335
0
335
Another girl that can do it all: Alyssa Budd. Alyssa only contributed to 20 points in Napoleon’s win over Brooklyn Columbia Central. Contributor in the 4×1, Winner in the 100m, Pole Vault, and her best event – Long Jump. Having leapt into the 17’s last spring, her 17’9.5” was barely a personal best, but it is easily the best mark in D3 thus far.
D3 Rank
Team
Long
High
Total
1
Hillsdale
690
382
1072
2
Lawton
0
802
802
3
Napoleon
737
0
737
4
Hart
300
425
725
5
Grand Rapids West Catholic
332
324
656
6
Remus Chippewa Hills
351
286
637
7
Ida
309
324
633
8
Saginaw Valley Lutheran
303
324
628
9
Grand Traverse Academy
621
0
621
10
Ann Arbor Greenhills
586
0
586
11
McBain
288
286
574
12
Clinton
0
572
572
12
Schoolcraft
0
572
572
14
Hudson
385
0
385
15
Comstock
0
344
344
16
Bath
335
0
335
17
Stockbridge
332
0
332
18
Galesburg-Augusta
326
0
326
19
Bridgman
0
324
324
19
Manistee
0
324
324
19
Reed City
0
324
324
19
Saugatuck
0
324
324
23
Durand
315
0
315
24
Ithaca
300
0
300
25
Bad Axe
298
0
298
She’s been a mainstay at the D4 State Finals, finishing 12th as a sophomore and 3rd as a junior. Claire Molnar kicked off her senior year with a magnificent jump into the 16’s. Currently, that’s the #1 leap amongst D4 girls and already matches her championship form from her junior year. There’s sure to be competition – 11 of the top 12 places return, but Claire has set a mark for others to ponder.
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 