Blog

Lauren Kiley was one of the top freshman in the state last season.  Walked away with the Wayne County championship, nearly won her region, but still went sub-18 in the process.  Carried over to track where she showed herself to be a little more of a miler, running 5:03.

Kendall Schopieray showed some dramatic improvements over the course of two months.  She really started to hit her stride around the time of Northern Michigan Champs, placing 5^th there.  That continued onto States, where she knocked out another top-5 finish.  She may be more of a 400/800 track girl, but showed solid times across the board.

Taryn Chapko’s hit list included many invitationals, Corunna and Apples to Apples most notably.  Also placed high in the MHSAA events, outperforming her season average in both.  Really shines on the track, her 800 times are elite, and she was undefeated in that event this spring.

Yasmine Mansi was able to break 18 for the second consecutive season and was at the forefront of many of Northville’s races.  In track, she was able to go sub-5 for the first time, at State Finals no less.  That time was good for a 6^th place finish.

Maryam Sheena had quite the track season, PRing at all three distance events.  The biggest jump came in the 3200, where she crushed the 11 minute barrier in a 10:52 at Regionals.  She had a similar peak in XC, where she was able to tie her best rating of the season in a 19^th place performance at States.

Sarah Forsyth had a very consistent freshman campaign, with 8 ratings of over 150.  Her best rating and best time came at Jackson, where she beat a certain girl ranked in the top 5.  She’s another one that has shown exceptional 800 quality, where she ran 2:15 on a relay.

Look, a freshman!  Arianne Olson’s track record at the middle school level speaks for itself.  You would have to go back to October 2016 to find a race she didn’t finish 1^st on the XC course. That dominance continued to the track, where she only lost once all year, and broke 11 for the second consecutive year.

Emma Squires led a Petoskey team to a top 3 finish last year, they should be up there again this year.  Her best performances came at Northern Michigan (PR) and Regionals (1^st place).  In track, she nabbed All-State honors in the 16/32, while also PRing in the 800.

Allison Chmielewski had about as impressive a start to her XC season as you’ll see.  Unfortunately it was cut short, but that doesn’t diminish her accomplishments.  It looks like she recaptured that form in track, where she finished 4^th in both the 16/32 at States.

I like examples of kids who come up big in big meets.  Julia Flynn did just that in her first time at MIS.  Her 16 second PR there netted her a Top 10 finish.  She showed great ability in the 1600 as well with a 4:56 and 8^th place finish at States.

 

Drew Seabase has always played second or third fiddle to the Smiths, but has broke out in some instances.  Really made a jump in October, highlighted by that 3rd at the Northern Michigan Champs and 14th at States.  Concentrated on the 800/1600 in track, best performance was in the 800, placing 2nd at Regionals.

Riley Hough may have not had the best individual performances of any freshman, but he did have the best sustained success.  One of the few track meets I attended, New Balance, I was impressed with his tactics.  In XC, he was consistent all year, finally breaking 16:00 at Coaching Legends and following that up with a 19 second improvement a month later.

Andrew Nolan is sort of a lone wolf (or dragon?) in a region with Clarkston, Romeo, and Stoney Creek.  Great range, being able to run under 4:20 a few times in track, but also under 15:30.  Most impressive races were in sloppy conditions at Holly and Oakland County.

Owen Huard made tremendous strides both in XC and track.  XC, he lowered his PR by over a minute.  Track, I have it as his first season, that 4:15.9 1600 was good for 2nd at Golden Triangle.  Somewhat of an unknown quantity, will that spring training pay off?

Alex Penski is another one who ran well in less than ideal conditions at Holly.  He then followed that up with a great peak, 2nd in his region, 7th in the state.  He also possesses the same range as a Nolan or Huard, placing 3rd in the 1600 a few days ago.

Nathan Larson is probably a little more distance-oriented than his Dexter counterpart.  Very consistent performances, running within 5 points in September/October.  Track saw him set PRs in the 1600 and 3200, most notably the 9:23 at regionals.

Luke Perelli turned in his best performance on a fast day at Willow.  A little less consistent than some others, but the potential is there.  Was able to set PRs in all three distance events, though he concentrated on the 1600, where he dropped 2 seconds from 2018.

Personally, I loved Joey Tavalieri’s win at Macomb County.  Jack Wilson’s has and will be the top dog in the county, it’s good to see a little rivalry.  He continued that peak to a near regional win and a top-10 finish at MIS.

As with Divine Child, Dexter, and others, it must be demoralizing to see two Holt kids at the front of every race.  Adugna Moritz may not have the speed of Penski, but he can put down similar times at the 5k.  Was able to PR at everything this spring.

 

Michael Hancock might not be as fast as his brother, but he possesses the same ability in clutch situations.  I believe he was seeded 16th in the 1600 at State Finals, he finished 2nd.  Also doubled back with a 9:20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Madison Ebright had a spectacular freshman year, breaking 19 minutes and continued that into her sophomore year.  She mostly ran conference meets, but in state competition, ran her most impressive times.  In track, she ran 11:01 early, but no results into May.  Hopefully she’s healthy, as that time is an indicator of potentially fast performances.

Seems like there’s been Ohlssons and Frasers at NDP for hundreds of years.  Jennifer Ohlsson is just another example.  Her best race was at Northern Michigan, hanging right with some girls I have ranked higher.  As with many, she PRed in the 800-3200, the 5:10 standing out the most.

Ellie Kendell pulled off quite the double at Division 4 Track Finals, winning in both the 16 and 32.  Neither were PRs, but both very close.  She’s another one that comes from a running background.  Her XC campaign was a major improvement from 2017, in most races, dropping more than a minute.

Mia Patria was a steady influence on Clarkston’s title run.  While others may have had more impressive credentials, she came up huge in November with a 160 rating, beating many that beat her earlier in the season.  Track season was cut short but I’m sure she’ll use that as motivation.

Rylee Tolson showed great improvement in her track season.  Hard to tell which is the most jaw-dropping time, but her 10:48 is the largest predictor of XC success.  That time (a 25 second PR on the big stage… doubling at that) was good for 3rd at States and her 1600 netted her 5th.

East Grand Rapids just reloads.  There’s got to be some good coaching going on over there.  Ainsley Workman is one in a long list coming in and producing.  Consistent improvement throughout the season, her 145 ratings at both Regional and State helped EGR secure a state title.  Concentrated on the 1600 in track, that 5:02 was good for 5th at States.  Would imagine if she ran the 3200 later in the season, she’d be in the 10s.

Another EGR runner contributing in her first season of XC was Anna Petr.  Undoubtedly spurred by XC competition and training, she dropped nearly a minute from her 3200 marks.  I probably have her underrated, not a knock on those ahead of her, she’s obviously young in her running career.

Gillian Fiene’s 2018 track season was exceptional, a potential omen for XC.  The 4:57 won at Division 2 States, she also came back and placed 4th in the 800.  Her and Kuipers make a formidable duo at the top of any race.

Andrea Ruiz spent a great amount of time in the 18s last year.  While her track times may not stack up (still dropped time in the 3200) with others, that consistency places her here.  Most impressive performances were at an always tough Hess Hathaway regional and probably the most solid invitational every year, Jackson.

Lani Bloom ran a lot of races as a freshman, many of them very good.  Early in track season, she commented that she had to learn to race, it looks like that happened, receiving that All-State honor in the 1600.  That 5:10 was an 8 sec. PR from earlier in the season.  Scary thing is Ithaca knows how to develop runners (see Allen, Ransom), so she should be in contention for that Division 3 crown.