Infographs from last season. Over the next few weeks, I’ll build out for this year with updated graphics.
Girls Adjustment: -39 Boys Adjustment: -43
As always, these writeups below will shoutout someone or a team that stood out from the race. That may not be the best runner or the winning team. Perhaps a team that surprised, a runner breaking through, or a runner contributing to a team victory. Of course, if you come to me nicely and want to brag about a fellow team/competitor/teammate, let me know, and I’ll try to give them love further down the line.
SAINTLY
Caiden Caswell, Vicksburg
There were flashes during his freshman cross season, quite a few mid-16 efforts. There were also humbling moments, such as placing 207th at State. The former showed he was quickly learning the sport; the latter prevented him from being mentioned among Michigan’s best freshmen. Track saw more consistency, running in the 4:40’s and ending his 3200m campaign with a 10:14 PR. If he combines the speed he displayed here with the ability to always bring it from track, standing on championship podiums is a definite possibility.
Berkley Holtz, Sturgis
First off, I see you, Emma Hoffman. Maybe chill on challenging your Otsego school record a bit?
Secondly, this girl. Berks had been showing signs of her elite racing on the track, running 2:20 or faster the past two years, sub-5:20 as well. But it hadn’t really translated to cross. Sure, she’d been good, top-10 at Regionals, St. Joseph County champ (x2). But this is a whole ‘nother level. For comparison sake, her opener here last year was above 20. 18:55 yesterday.
*** = Team State Title type of performance ** = Top-10 Team type of performance * = Team Qualifier type of performance
Infographs from last season. Over the next few weeks, I’ll build out for this year with updated graphics.
Girls Adjustment: -53 Boys Adjustment: -46
As always, these writeups below will shoutout someone or a team that stood out from the race. That may not be the best runner or the winning team. Perhaps a team that surprised, a runner breaking through, or a runner contributing to a team victory. Of course, if you come to me nicely and want to brag about a fellow team/competitor/teammate, let me know, and I’ll try to give them love further down the line.
BIG HILL BALLERS
Sulley Zietlow, Three Rivers
For the Region 13 preview, I wrote that Sulley had big goals for his senior year. Was one of them nearly breaking 16:00 on one of the tougher courses around? For real though, this is a performance that launches him into the upper echelon of D2 runners. Last year’s Big Hill effort was above 17, he ended 2023 running in the low-16’s. This year, racing already in the low-16’s, we can only imagine what lies ahead.
Claire Vos, Plainwell
21:30 22:29 24:28
Those are Claire’s season bests from her freshman through junior years, respectively.
20:40 at the Viking Stampede, 21:42 here. Where did this start to her senior year come from?
*** = Team State Title type of performance ** = Top-10 Team type of performance * = Team Qualifier type of performance