Two final posts to mark the end of track coverage here. Throughout the year, I’ve compared across similar events, shot put vs. disc, 100m vs. 400m, but never across categories. These lists attempt to do just that. There are two honors I’d like to bestow: Best of the Best and All-Around Athlete.
Best of the Best totals up the points from an athlete’s best two events. In the case of Braxton Brann, that could be the 200m and 110h. Abby Russell only competed in two, the Shot Put and Discus. Other than a few pole vaulters, your elite athletes will compete in at least two events, perform at a high level, and score points in both.
The All-Around Athletes are scored by adding the points from every single event (as long as they hit the additional regional qualifier). For the girls, the max was seven, the boys, six. There is a drawback to this, that those in lower divisions have an easier qualifier, but I believe that’s balanced by the fewer resources that those schools in the lower divisions may have.
Two final posts to mark the end of track coverage here. Throughout the year, I’ve compared across similar events, shot put vs. disc, 100m vs. 400m, but never across categories. These lists attempt to do just that. There are two honors I’d like to bestow: Best of the Best and All-Around Athlete.
Best of the Best totals up the points from an athlete’s best two events. In the case of Braxton Brann, that could be the 200m and 110h. Abby Russell only competed in two, the Shot Put and Discus. Other than a few pole vaulters, your elite athletes will compete in at least two events, perform at a high level, and score points in both.
The All-Around Athletes are scored by adding the points from every single event (as long as they hit the additional regional qualifier). For the girls, the max was seven, the boys, six. There is a drawback to this, that those in lower divisions have an easier qualifier, but I believe that’s balanced by the fewer resources that those schools in the lower divisions may have.
If you’re tired of looking at the best teams and want to know the individual rankings, scroll all the way to the bottom!
BEST CREWS
Grade
Name
Time
Event
Points
Info
1:26.41
4×2
1535
Division 1 State Champion
3:20.52
4×4
1346
3rd Place – Division 1 State
43.70
4×1
870
2nd Place – Macomb County
11
Shamar Heard
47.78
400m
498
Division 1 State Champion
12
Jonas Morris
48.41
400m
475
3rd Place – Division 1 State
11
Noah Morris
10.88
100m
415
7th Place – Division 1 State
11
Shamar Heard
21.69
200m
413
MAC Red Champion
11
Shamar Heard
10.93
100m
406
#17 time in Division 1
11
Noah Morris
21.79
200m
404
5th Place – Division 1 State
12
Jonas Morris
22.05
200m
380
#17 time in Division 1
11
Chris Estell
51.08
400m
380
7th Place – Region 10
11
Noah Morris
51.29
400m
373
#16 junior in Division 1
11
Chris Estell
22.38
200m
351
3rd Place – Macomb County
12
Jamir Martin
52.09
400m
344
6th Place – MAC Red
12
Jonas Morris
11.25
100m
344
#85 time in Division 1
10
Jailen Thomas
11.35
100m
325
2nd Place – MAC Red
Rank
Team
Total
100m
200m
400m
4×1
4×2
4×4
1
Chippewa Valley
8514
1490
1547
1726
870
1535
1346
2
Rockford
8068
2006
1418
761
1251
1424
1209
3
Ann Arbor Huron
7492
1557
1472
1148
1035
1118
1161
4
Holland West Ottawa
7486
1379
1322
1103
1127
1318
1239
5
St. Joseph
7194
1108
995
1539
1013
1240
1298
6
Grand Blanc
7127
1019
1148
1412
1110
1365
1072
7
Oak Park
7077
1006
945
1262
1129
1309
1426
8
West Bloomfield
6968
1531
1271
726
1185
1239
1016
9
Detroit U-D Jesuit
6966
1081
1385
867
961
1455
1217
10
Belleville
6915
1300
1258
1233
972
1103
1049
11
East Kentwood
6753
1486
964
853
1009
1268
1174
12
Lansing Waverly
6498
1388
1271
453
1092
1404
889
13
Detroit Martin Luther King
6133
779
1246
725
1176
1228
980
14
Saline
6112
1036
1250
384
1103
1230
1109
15
Traverse City West
6090
1384
1133
788
818
1006
960
16
Davison
6029
1313
1171
333
1062
1204
946
17
Zeeland West
5865
1104
979
427
952
1252
1151
18
Byron Center
5835
685
1222
787
961
1224
956
19
Holt
5749
915
1194
345
978
1225
1092
20
Rochester Adams
5597
667
708
499
1013
1309
1401
21
Fenton
5569
650
850
1095
789
1153
1033
22
Troy
5567
394
1004
1591
0
1250
1328
23
Northville
5549
715
548
1105
789
1102
1291
24
Detroit Cass Tech
5481
708
997
817
672
1217
1071
25
Midland Dow
5359
1402
892
442
864
946
812
26
Novi
5341
1421
532
682
996
943
767
27
Saginaw Heritage
5223
1015
867
429
814
1092
1006
28
Utica Eisenhower
5098
1359
609
449
910
900
872
29
Livonia Franklin
5077
998
599
371
1031
1070
1009
30
Kalamazoo Central
5073
1148
985
345
1241
1355
0
31
Hudsonville
4965
306
283
1445
679
1101
1150
32
East Lansing
4906
765
667
342
965
1123
1043
33
Muskegon
4826
1459
1312
0
1080
974
0
34
Caledonia
4731
979
527
352
870
1117
885
35
Southfield Arts & Tech
4578
736
586
394
860
1025
975
36
Jackson
4557
663
690
438
952
1019
795
37
Lake Orion
4531
1004
635
0
1026
1122
744
38
Battle Creek Lakeview
4387
0
819
768
692
868
1239
39
Brighton
4375
696
921
355
696
916
792
40
Mattawan
4346
944
1137
346
925
995
0
41
Detroit Catholic Central
4273
698
620
431
667
1057
799
42
St. Clair Shores Lakeview
4185
638
268
714
818
973
774
43
Zeeland East
4147
654
580
1120
0
893
900
44
Warren DeLaSalle
4078
806
955
0
1226
1091
0
45
Lapeer
4012
348
629
698
679
946
712
46
Fraser
3907
325
285
701
828
751
1017
47
Grandville
3854
394
532
350
773
865
939
48
Farmington
3837
323
572
394
818
935
796
49
Grosse Pointe South
3768
634
284
398
631
799
1021
50
Clarkston
3739
0
663
759
0
1093
1224
Grade
Name
Time
Event
Points
Info
1:28.18
4×2
1335
Division 2 State Champion
42.68
4×1
1092
Lakeland Conference Champion
3:31.06
4×4
880
2nd Place – Region 14
11
Jake Machiniak
10.54
100m
481
Division 2 State Champion
10
Noah Jarvis
49.57
400m
434
5th Place – Division 2 State
12
Jared Wilburn
10.96
100m
400
3rd Place – Region 14
11
Jake Machiniak
22.04
200m
381
Lakeland Conference Champion
12
Jared Wilburn
51.08
400m
380
Lakeland Conference Champion
12
Jared Wilburn
22.20
200m
367
2nd Place – Region 14
11
Jake Machiniak
52.16
400m
342
#53 time in Division 2
10
Zander White
11.34
100m
327
3rd Place – Lakeland Conference
10
Noah Jarvis
22.69
200m
323
2nd Place – Lakeland Conference
12
Quimari Haskins
22.73
200m
319
3rd Place – Region 14
12
Quimari Haskins
11.41
100m
313
7th Place – Region 14
12
Allen Taylor
53.20
400m
305
13th Place – Region 14
10
Zander White
23.48
200m
252
#25 sophomore in Division 2
Rank
Team
Total
100m
200m
400m
4×1
4×2
4×4
1
Berrien Springs
7678
1521
1390
1460
1092
1335
880
2
Frankenmuth
6653
1034
1001
1404
1029
1110
1075
3
Spring Lake
6268
650
1143
1525
464
1272
1214
4
Forest Hills Eastern
6123
1058
939
1019
931
1247
930
5
Vicksburg
5991
1411
897
689
952
1153
888
6
Detroit Country Day
5802
1415
836
627
1002
1080
842
7
Whitehall
5768
398
1192
804
946
1222
1206
8
Corunna
5765
1063
876
352
1103
1319
1052
9
Parma Western
5650
1152
1034
910
781
1018
756
10
Flint Powers Catholic
5539
1090
1110
653
790
1061
835
11
Charlotte
5457
929
1202
667
925
1154
581
12
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
5317
1331
1175
305
910
1023
574
13
Fowlerville
5106
1207
836
641
918
944
560
14
Gladwin
4974
915
750
1036
720
887
666
15
Hamilton
4862
683
605
712
756
1020
1088
16
Howard City Tri-County
4742
681
590
796
687
918
1072
17
Wayland Union
4734
410
1097
691
852
874
810
18
Grand Rapids Christian
4697
1190
502
347
798
701
1159
19
Lansing Sexton
4693
1327
1063
287
991
1025
0
20
Tecumseh
4545
738
675
377
908
1179
668
21
Freeland
4476
606
876
706
623
656
1009
22
Mason
4435
581
770
350
893
840
1000
23
Riverview
4419
650
601
687
672
874
936
24
Essexville Garber
4411
288
518
1049
560
1069
927
25
Sturgis
4396
934
568
623
864
815
591
26
Battle Creek Harper Creek
4319
631
526
936
683
872
671
27
Allendale
4285
667
473
660
935
831
718
28
East Grand Rapids
4208
623
704
962
475
639
804
29
Shepherd
4105
685
783
326
756
842
714
30
Ludington
3883
573
473
289
826
985
737
31
Hastings
3854
0
722
744
504
768
1117
32
Chelsea
3759
681
494
330
663
789
802
33
Marshall
3700
536
491
578
528
847
719
34
Petoskey
3632
648
724
0
718
816
726
35
Summit Academy North
3602
260
626
719
612
739
646
36
Cadillac
3489
525
662
0
727
899
676
37
Edwardsburg
3483
0
238
715
733
875
922
38
Stevensville Lakeshore
3309
275
559
326
674
784
690
39
Big Rapids
3282
273
231
659
521
734
863
40
Alma
3266
285
439
628
563
716
636
41
Saginaw Swan Valley
3196
298
532
326
552
797
691
42
Grand Rapids Catholic Central
3195
315
331
406
552
1011
579
43
Madison Heights Lamphere
3117
329
520
316
595
628
730
44
Marysville
3088
304
474
300
526
732
752
45
Portland
3063
575
219
306
592
700
671
46
Yale
3054
0
342
1022
0
840
851
47
Marine City
3005
713
620
0
767
905
0
48
Wyoming Kelloggsville
3004
917
511
0
660
917
0
49
Hamady
2980
275
334
382
0
1018
971
50
Williamston
2956
310
707
0
631
793
515
Grade
Name
Time
Event
Points
Info
3:30.00
4×4
922
2nd Place – Division 3 State
1:32.43
4×2
912
6th Place – Division 3 State
44.77
4×1
665
2nd Place – Jack Pine Conference
12
Karson Tocco
52.17
400m
341
2nd Place – Jack Pine Conference
11
Jeffrey Schafer
52.53
400m
329
3rd Place – Region 21
12
Karson Tocco
22.80
200m
313
Region 21 Champion
11
Nic Porter
53.27
400m
302
#18 junior in Division 3
12
Karson Tocco
11.48
100m
300
4th Place – Jack Pine Conference
11
Brad White
53.36
400m
299
#23 junior in Division 3
11
Keagen Paisley
11.57
100m
283
5th Place – Jack Pine Conference
11
Owhin Thompson
54.28
400m
266
7th Place – Jack Pine Conference
9
Jacob Halicek
11.69
100m
260
#5 freshman in Division 3
12
Dan Stevens
54.51
400m
258
6th Place – Jack Pine Conference
10
Ryan Louch
11.80
100m
238
#24 sophomore in Division 3
11
Ryan Rodenbo
11.81
100m
236
#51 junior in Division 3
11
Keagen Paisley
23.82
200m
221
#36 junior in Division 3
10
Ryan Louch
23.89
200m
215
#16 sophomore in Division 3
11
Ryan Rodenbo
24.00
200m
205
9th Place – Jack Pine Conference
9
Jacob Halicek
24.07
200m
199
#4 freshman in Division 3
11
Jeffrey Schafer
24.12
200m
194
1.2 second improvement
9
Conan Weeks
24.38
200m
171
#14 freshman in Division 3
Rank
Team
Total
100m
200m
400m
4×1
4×2
4×4
1
Clare
5805
1080
955
1271
665
912
922
2
Sanford-Meridian
5712
1181
1013
671
918
1093
836
3
Napoleon
5629
1132
1090
813
763
1071
760
4
Ottawa Lake-Whiteford
5584
583
864
1375
822
906
1036
5
Chesaning
5334
556
1010
1207
619
1035
907
6
Warren Michigan Collegiate
5269
1052
959
852
889
956
562
7
Ithaca
5244
648
902
992
870
929
903
8
Detroit Edison PSA
5121
986
1098
896
716
1028
396
9
Reed City
4934
559
792
1239
718
705
921
10
Hart
4893
829
648
958
725
867
867
11
Onsted
4854
831
749
703
802
953
816
12
Olivet
4314
542
781
928
565
664
834
13
Erie Mason
4232
575
450
1007
521
807
872
14
Constantine
4225
484
676
1065
0
944
1056
15
Adrian Madison
4200
623
682
615
769
797
714
16
North Muskegon
4106
521
585
1033
461
911
595
17
Lansing Catholic
3979
748
864
322
626
781
638
18
Hillsdale
3965
642
896
278
678
840
631
19
Burton Atherton
3965
1048
1039
0
785
1093
0
20
Traverse City St. Francis
3914
669
585
581
545
764
770
21
Jonesville
3820
258
452
951
547
689
924
22
Union City
3793
486
696
351
661
918
680
23
Ida
3757
584
755
337
370
879
831
24
Standish Sterling
3564
690
399
249
879
704
643
25
Montague
3539
377
295
571
716
909
671
26
Centreville
3524
461
471
376
750
911
555
27
Pewamo-Westphalia
3409
677
771
272
804
885
0
28
Lawton
3399
477
652
296
665
822
486
29
Lake City
3331
681
504
611
578
551
406
30
Saginaw Valley Lutheran
3215
263
450
671
391
778
661
31
Hanover-Horton
3111
394
247
560
623
625
661
32
Grand Rapids West Catholic
2950
784
428
0
621
661
456
33
Bridgman
2885
227
369
595
0
825
869
34
Comstock
2884
817
680
0
683
704
0
35
Grandville Calvin Christian
2882
327
388
259
582
859
467
36
Michigan Center
2855
856
246
360
472
480
442
37
Jackson Lumen Christi
2848
638
506
0
612
643
448
38
Brooklyn Columbia Central
2832
263
265
271
604
850
579
39
New Lothrop
2803
221
254
566
605
620
536
40
Ovid-Elsie
2720
0
392
627
393
655
653
41
Kent City
2677
308
470
407
395
598
500
42
Delton-Kellogg
2666
254
468
251
470
744
480
43
Evart
2652
963
216
0
687
786
0
44
Tawas
2521
263
436
677
0
578
567
45
Saranac
2516
263
239
1184
0
0
829
46
Manton
2496
515
516
368
352
0
745
47
Grand Rapids Covenant Christian
2492
567
457
624
0
0
844
48
Detroit Central
2458
575
699
0
498
686
0
49
Manchester
2458
0
203
610
454
504
687
50
Mancelona
2431
492
206
604
0
461
668
Grade
Name
Time
Event
Points
Info
1:31.71
4×2
978
4th Place – Division 4 State
3:29.40
4×4
946
2nd Place – Division 4 State
43.72
4×1
866
Division 4 State Champion
12
Adair Artis
52.14
400m
342
2nd Place – Big 8 Conference
12
Malachi Boyd
11.44
100m
308
#20 time in Division 4
12
Javion Taylor
23.00
200m
295
2nd Place – Big 8 Conference
12
Javion Taylor
11.51
100m
294
Big 8 Conference Champion
11
Mekhi Wingfield
11.59
100m
279
#16 junior in Division 4
12
Connor Keefer
54.99
400m
241
3rd Place – Region 36
12
Malachi Boyd
23.72
200m
230
#39 time in Division 4
9
Tylend Allen
11.87
100m
225
6th Place – Big 8 Conference
11
Tyreke Brown
23.79
200m
224
2nd Place – Region 36
12
Isaac Waldron
55.90
400m
209
4th Place – Region 36
9
Tylend Allen
24.50
200m
160
6th Place – Region 36
12
Anthony Evans
24.81
200m
132
#143 time in Division 4
Rank
Team
Total
100m
200m
400m
4×1
4×2
4×4
1
Concord
5598
1106
910
792
866
978
946
2
Kalamazoo Hackett
5310
1142
799
1022
850
954
543
3
Reading
5169
661
906
1124
642
838
998
4
Buckley
4781
658
774
862
461
1069
958
5
Fowler
4190
202
829
894
352
1009
904
6
Unionville-Sebewaing
3587
671
744
522
377
655
618
7
Lincoln-Alcona
3584
1080
587
533
415
625
344
8
Southfield Christian
3531
936
516
320
452
702
604
9
Fairview
3334
790
379
728
432
437
568
10
Morenci
3332
561
461
586
496
605
622
11
Climax-Scotts
3331
1034
837
0
588
636
235
12
Beal City
3293
1017
646
240
585
374
430
13
Flint Beecher
3279
471
434
0
725
1031
617
14
Kingston
3279
731
523
289
524
763
450
15
Three Oaks River Valley
3094
529
651
808
170
374
563
16
Maple City Glen Lake
3007
730
293
668
268
460
587
17
The Potter’s House
2986
500
694
216
638
247
692
18
Harbor Springs
2976
194
345
1073
192
563
609
19
Dansville
2933
233
573
246
537
697
648
20
McBain Northern Michigan Christian
2918
219
364
723
255
675
683
21
Hillsdale Academy
2783
0
556
918
153
372
784
22
Mt Clemens
2727
636
705
628
0
572
185
23
Detroit Frederick Douglass
2717
671
796
609
0
0
641
24
Indian River Inland Lakes
2706
727
360
295
512
560
253
25
Marion
2665
336
627
539
251
910
0
26
Riverview Gabriel Richard
2631
681
353
276
410
481
430
27
Martin
2536
250
481
469
296
494
546
28
Sand Creek
2519
421
321
519
413
413
432
29
Pentwater
2415
477
376
614
320
0
628
30
Addison
2410
433
296
520
443
492
226
31
Gobles
2372
483
387
0
585
695
223
32
Royal Oak Shrine
2361
656
365
0
430
465
446
33
East Jordan
2353
644
622
0
515
299
273
34
Central Lake
2345
409
273
487
292
485
399
35
Athens
2284
206
447
245
319
502
566
36
Carsonville-Port Sanilac
2270
582
314
210
388
500
275
37
Carson City-Crystal
2247
231
332
762
0
295
627
38
St. Charles
2224
271
433
491
405
624
0
39
White Pigeon
2214
0
183
592
380
523
536
40
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary
2197
461
362
429
365
580
0
41
Morrice
2152
302
246
0
570
800
235
42
Potterville
2120
613
123
227
244
458
456
43
East Jackson
2097
419
357
269
201
601
251
44
Pellston
1948
806
469
218
271
0
185
45
Auburn Hills Oakland Christian
1865
408
361
467
0
444
185
46
Frankfort
1831
584
157
0
376
297
417
47
Mendon
1783
285
230
546
138
278
307
48
International Academy of Flint
1730
511
0
410
557
252
0
49
Mesick
1710
673
502
0
276
0
259
50
Deckerville
1628
0
137
234
177
536
544
Grade
Name
Time
Event
Points
Info
44.41
4×1
731
UP Division 1 State Champion
1:34.88
4×2
704
2nd Place – UP Division 1 State
3:37.22
4×4
652
UP Division 1 State Champion
12
Colin Vanderschaaf
52.54
400m
328
2nd Place – UP Division 1 State
11
Cullen Papin
52.71
400m
322
6th Place – UP Division 1 State
10
Jacob MacPhee
52.87
400m
316
3rd Place – UP Division 1 State
12
Nate Benninger
11.42
100m
311
6th Place – UP Division 1 State
10
Kyler Sager
11.49
100m
298
4th Place – UP Division 1 State
12
Nate Benninger
23.65
200m
237
3rd Place – UP Division 1 State
10
Jacob MacPhee
24.10
200m
196
5th Place – UP Division 1 State
9
Ford Richardson
12.08
100m
185
#2 freshman in the UP
10
Colin Morrison
24.52
200m
159
#2 sophomore in the UP
10
Drew Bradley
24.59
200m
152
6th Place – GNC Conference
9
Ben Rayhorn
24.60
200m
151
4th Place – Marquette County
12
Colin Vanderschaaf
24.64
200m
148
#41 time in the UP
Rank
Team
Total
100m
200m
400m
4×1
4×2
4×4
1
Marquette
4592
794
744
967
731
704
652
2
Kingsford
4142
1046
416
696
640
794
550
3
Bark River-Harris
3952
1005
665
296
592
840
554
4
Sault Ste. Marie
3620
1144
738
568
271
661
239
5
Manistique
3197
490
441
500
241
771
753
6
St. Ignace
3136
986
250
429
458
593
420
7
Newberry
3088
717
338
565
427
698
343
8
Pickford
3056
267
506
752
274
626
630
9
Iron Mountain
3054
959
734
311
417
405
228
10
Munising
2976
627
464
347
416
464
657
11
Gladstone
2783
1107
227
0
498
540
411
12
Escanaba
2350
696
186
263
398
405
402
13
Ishpeming
2277
607
335
639
132
301
263
14
Negaunee
2160
409
482
0
350
458
460
15
Calumet
2094
527
233
474
452
0
408
16
Lake Linden-Hubbell
1774
265
196
284
412
617
0
17
Bessemer
1577
317
379
0
427
453
0
18
Menominee
1467
188
0
248
184
478
368
19
Houghton
1456
186
327
0
364
376
203
20
Norway
1384
244
407
259
0
473
0
21
Stephenson
1263
0
178
232
134
320
397
22
Powers North Central
1124
392
177
284
271
0
0
23
Forest Park
819
252
322
0
245
0
0
24
Brimley
760
346
193
0
221
0
0
25
Watersmeet Township
707
219
183
305
0
0
0
SPRINTERS OF THE YEAR
These individual rankings operate in the same fashion as the distance ones, taking an athlete’s best two events, assigning scores, then adding together to form a list. They don’t take state titles or other accomplishments. I feel that if I assigned points or manipulated a list based on those, I’d be adding too much subjectivity. So pure numbers it is. The pure numbers of the scores were derived from looking at the times from last year across the whole nation. Here are the scores per each time in each event.
As always, check out Jeff Hollobaugh’s michtrack.org for the official lists for each event. Give him a few days to process everything from this incredible season, as many of our great athletes have hit marks that will stand the test of time.
You’ve got to appreciate the ability to pull off the different combinations of events at the state level. As a sophomore=, it was the longer sprints and longer hurdles. A junior, just sprints. A few weeks back, the perfect recipe – 110h and 200m. Enough rest in between events to hold off a tough opponent such as Trey McGinnis and capture a double not accomplished in 128 years.
Last spring, he got first taste of an individual All-State, this year he came back for more. Runner-ups in both the 100m and 200m, and in the both the prelims, he grabbed wind-legal PRs. But what may trump both those was his title-clinching 400m leg (I’ve heard it was in the 46’s, I had 47.x on my watch), gaining 5 points for his Bears, enough to hoist the trophy.
Entering the 2022 State Finals as a title contender, Jaiden succumbed to Shamar Heard’s historic day, coming home without an individual title. In this year’s 100m, he shut the door on any potential contender, bolting out of the blocks with his usual great start, claiming an individual title to go with his team’s honors from last year.
Add another one to the trophy case. His 400m title this year plus the 100m and 200m from last year, gives Heard all three of the sprint crowns. That versatility will surely be a point in his favor when it comes to entertaining college offers, but let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves. What he’s doing at the high school level is incredible. Holding off Damarcus Rouse showed quite a bit of grit, the kind of grit that led to his Michigan HS record in the 400m last summer. Given that he’s already running faster at this point in 2023 than in 2022, watch to see if he can lower that record even further.
Probably the least mentioned about sprinter in the State. Jaylin just wins and always brings his best performance to the State Finals. In three years, he’s racked up five individual trophies. In this, his senior year, he brought home the 100m and 200m, along with two All-State relays with his Buccaneer teammates. Given these great times while leading, I fully believe he could contend with the state’s best if we had a meet following the State Finals with all the champions. Hopefully in future years we can provide those intriguing matchups.
Often, you’ll see great leaps between one’s 9th and 10th grade years, perhaps even 10th and 11th. Much less commonly, Damarcus’s improvement between his junior and senior years. As a junior, he ran in the 50’s with a few 48-49’s sprinkled in, and a 15th place on the big stage. This past spring, he was either in the 47-48’s or winning in every race that matters.
Another one with the improvements. Keiton transformed from a kid whose best regional finish was 8th in the 100m as a sophomore to a senior with All-State placings in the 100m and 200m. Although he didn’t nab the individual titles of some listed above, he was a crucial leg in the Rams 4×1 title on their home ground.
Don’t tell anyone, but the Tigers are quietly turning into a program to be reckoned with. When you can turn a freshman running 51.8 (great in it’s own right) to a sophomore breaking 49, you know you’re giving kids the right training and culture to improve. Smith also had a noticeable uptick in his 200m efforts, from mid-22’s to sub-22. Both of those improvements gave way to All-State honors.
As a sophomore, he didn’t even make it to state in the 100m, placing 5th in Region 14, running the high-11’s that he had for most of the year. But valuable experience was gained, being a part of the Shamrocks winning 4×1 squad. After a 2023 season consisting of a conference title, multiple sub-11’s, and high placings at MITCA/Region 14, Jake came through in a monstrous way in the 100m final, his 10.54 win the 3rd best time in Michigan under all conditions.