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Regional Previews

50 Tickets

Top Tens

Where: Allendale HS

Primarily flat with a few bumps in the back section. Wide open, solid footing, easy for spectators. A waterlogged mess for everyone else, last year’s regionals ran fast in comparison. Expect some personal bests as Grand Rapids area athletes are known to do as the season ends. Thank you to the Allendale folks for hosting many regionals. Easier for state officials, easier for me, just copy/pasting what I previously wrote.

2021 Boys: Grand Haven (7^th), Rockford (10^th), Lowell (19^th)

2021 Girls: Forest Hills Northern (15^th), Rockford (26^th), Grand Haven (12^th)

Unfortunately, to finish all these previews before Friday morning, some areas need to get cut. The writing about the various athletes, any sort of team battles, history, backdrop, that’s the most logical area to take in order to save time. The negative is that’s my favorite part. The positive is that with a lighter schedule of meets next week, I’ll be able to write my Upper Peninsula preview (yes, you read that right) and fill these in. So I’ll likely post an update to all the socials after those athletes are covered, and maybe we’ll have more info on some of the teams that are in contention.

Top 25 Boys Teams: Grand Haven (6^th), Zeeland West (8^th), Jenison (14^th), Rockford (18^th)

Top 25 Girls Teams: Holland West Ottawa (Top 2), Grand Haven (6^th), Rockford (21^st), Jenison (23^rd)

Regional Previews

50 Tickets

Top Tens

Where: Shepherd HS

During a 2020 spring, us track and cross fans were deprived of everything we love dear, but one thing was etched into stone, that Shepherd is Michigan’s favorite cross country course. Flat, easy on the directions, accessible for spectators, live splits and video at each mile. Come late fall, as long as the footing is stable, this will run a bit fast, but not overwhelmingly so.

2021 Boys: Traverse City Central (6^th), Davison (13^th), Saginaw Heritage (18^th)

2021 Girls: Traverse City Central (3^rd), Bay City Western (11^th), H.H. Dow (22^nd)

Unfortunately, to finish all these previews before Friday morning, some areas need to get cut. The writing about the various athletes, any sort of team battles, history, backdrop, that’s the most logical area to take in order to save time. The negative is that’s my favorite part. The positive is that with a lighter schedule of meets next week, I’ll be able to write my Upper Peninsula preview (yes, you read that right) and fill these in. So I’ll likely post an update to all the socials after those athletes are covered, and maybe we’ll have more info on some of the teams that are in contention.

Top 25 Boys Teams: Traverse City Central (5^th), Saginaw Heritage (20^th)

Top 25 Girls Teams: Traverse City Central (3^rd), Traverse City West (10^th), Okemos (12^th)

Regional Previews

50 Tickets

Top Tens

Where: Portage West MS

A course that needs to handle the biggest meet in the state. Wide turns, runner-friendly, spectator friendly. One hill, early and little over half way, fairly flat the rest of the way. Tended to run a little fast last year and compared to previous years at the same course. All in all, a fair test. The ever helpful, wearer of many hats, major reason the sport in Michigan is prioritized the way it is, Dan Wytko sent me this map of the course:

2021 Boys: Caledonia (2^nd), Portage Central (20^th), Battle Creek Lakeview (22^nd)

2021 Girls: Holland West Ottawa (2^nd), Zeeland West (24^th), St. Joseph (17^th)

Unfortunately, to finish all these previews before Friday morning, some areas need to get cut. The writing about the various athletes, any sort of team battles, history, backdrop, that’s the most logical area to take in order to save time. The negative is that’s my favorite part. The positive is that with a lighter schedule of meets next week, I’ll be able to write my Upper Peninsula preview (yes, you read that right) and fill these in. So I’ll likely post an update to all the socials after those athletes are covered, and maybe we’ll have more info on some of the teams that are in contention.

Top 25 Boys Teams: Portage Central (4^th), Kalamazoo Central (15^th), Forest Hills Central (19^th)

Top 25 Girls Teams: Forest Hills Central (9^th), Lowell (20^th), Forest Hills Northern (25^th)