Gosh, Hillsdale Academy and Adrian Lenawee Christian are pretty much the same as projected
Hillsdale Academy did lose Cole Bates, but many of their top performers from last year are performing at an admirable level
Alex Richards has done a superb job of filling Cole’s role, two great races back to back at Holly and Jackson
Lenawee Christian scarily equals the projections, and these rankings cover the meets before the Cougars experienced The Workout, which always brings forth a new level of grit for championship season
Michael Allen, Javin Mericle, and Zach Martinez have all been crucial in the uptick of East Jackson and Morenci
I did take a little peek at what the D4 Girls Rankings would’ve been this week, and if I recall correctly, Hillsdale Academy would’ve moved up in a good way
The Colt girls just finished 3rd at Jackson, ahead of many D3 teams, ahead of many RANKED D3 teams
All of their top 5 achieved a season or personal best, girls such as Ruth Brownlee knocking almost a minute off their previous best.
That jump from 21:00 to 20:15 will encompass a ton of the pack at a State Meet
Addison has moved into the 3rd spot, only fitting with an extra little presence on their shoulder during races
Stephanie Hernandez has done her thing up front, already racing faster than her State Finals effort from last year
Hanover-Horton and Jackson Lumen Christi just do it year after year
It’s not just having the lead runners such as Madison Osterberg and Rogan Melling, it’s about bringing Macy Fazekas and Zach Hassenzahl into the sport, it’s about developing Austin Brown and Gabrielle Osterberg
Last fall, Gabrielle ran 25:16 at Michigan Catholic, this fall a 21:19
Jackson, she progressed from 21:22 to 20:42
Austin was above 19:00 for much of his first three years, he’s now developed into much more – running in the 17’s or faster each and every time out
Leslie owes much of their 2nd place projection to junior Erik Dexter, who just finished the race of his life, a 19:04 at this very course. For perspective, his freshman year ended after two races, the best of those two was a 25:02
The Girls Top 3 is undoubtedly one of the stronger regional trios in the State, even within that, Onsted is running much faster than expected
Of course, Emmry Ross plays a role, looking like a potential State Champion with each succeeding race
Standing out to me over the weekend were her unrelenting even splits, by my watch, sticking close to 5:40 all throughout, running alone the entire way
Their greater influencers in the scoring are Allyson Robarge and Allie England, this weekend each running significant PB’s on Jackson’s South Side
In the midst of these regional writings, I don’t much to offer here in words. Although it’s worth noting that St. Johns’ 5th and 6th boys had two of their better races of the year. That’s where points are added, or what is looking more to be the case for the Redwings, SUBTRACTED.
Two-time defending State Champs, St. Louis, looked to be a lock in the summer and with these last few weeks, has further established their legitimacy. The question coming into the year was: who would join them? After a month or so of action, I think we have some answers. Caro has added the necessary components that left the Tigers out of the summer writings, and even their returners have shown progress. Jacob Moore, for example, is knocking on the door of the 17’s, an area not within sight a year ago. Sanford-Meridian was projected to have five in the top-20, I don’t see any reason that can’t happen. For a team already thought to have an easier path through this region, extra insurance is a bonus, adding a kid such as Tyler Heal, who’s entered the 17:00 range in his first season with the Mustangs.
The girls side also closely resembles those thoughts posted a month ago. Unfortunately, Reese doesn’t appear to have brought out the numbers to score a full squad. Into that void has stepped those pesky Sharks, who placed 2nd in the initial TVC 10 Jamboree and have seen solid time reductions from Abby Dice and Laney Pestrue. Lost in the sea of the hundreds of teams I attempt to cover is a squad such as Sandusky. Need I remind you that the Redskins finished 13th in the State last year and return a great number of those same girls? Speaking of the State Finals, Caro may have been ranked #6 in last week’s rankings, don’t be shocked if they’re in a better place than that come November.
Let’s take another look back to the ole summer preview and how wrong it was. Clio and Frankenmuth (boys and girls) for two examples. Landen Wise showed his goods during track, the 4th fastest freshmen 1600m runner in the state. The youth movement hasn’t stopped there, Brett Magnus and Anthony Plana both contributors to a team that placed 2nd in the first TVC 8 Jamboree. The first team? Oh those reliable FreelandFalcons. Clio has to be the eye opener thus far, one of the greater impacts on their rise being Andrew Yax, a steady figure in the low-17’s during these first few weeks.
If this girls race isn’t one of the more competitive and tightly wound regional races, I don’t know what is. Projected within 15 points are four teams with a legitimate shot of winning, making it in, or being left out. Shepherd, Freeland, and Alma all made it last year and can use that past experience as a guide. Frankenmuth has added a trio of freshmen behind Mary Richmond, that youth improving with each race. These four teams are so away and ahead of the others that there’s a real chance that each can put four in the top-20.
Shepherd opened with a win at Early Season Warrior, a 2nd place at Under the Lights, but were subdued with a few setbacks in early September. A Jack Pine victory could be the start of some championship momentum for a team projected just sliiightly out of the money. Freeland’s order isn’t the one expected in August, but I blame that squarely on Paige Kloha, running the best she has since her freshman year (7 second PB last weekend!). And given the summertime grief from those Ithaca gorlz, one must give credit where it’s due. You improve the girls that are already on the Panther team, Hannah Raglin, running 30-40 seconds faster than she ever has, you add 400m stud Joy Evans, sprinkle in frontrunner Ezgi Kurt, and you have a team set up to win championships.
As the guy responsible for much of the cross country discourse in the State, this falls on me. The Okemos girls are the least talked about D1 team in the State. Winners of the Corunna Early Bird and leading in the CAAC Blue, 2nd at John Bruder, 8th at Spartan Elite. I think it’s the lack of eye-popping frontrunners. But winners don’t place you high in big fields, depth does that, and the Chiefs have plenty of that, seven capable of running under 20:30.
Those East Lansing boys have been the real thorn in my side (sorry, Caledonia) the past few years. Graduating Zeleke and Page, what could be expected of the Trojans? Nothing much really other than Sam Booth grasping a gigantic PB in comparison to last season (and 4 minutes faster than his 2019 self) and Eden Lampi breaking 17:00 for the first time ever.
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 