11 to 27
| Rank | Team | Score |
| 11 | Grand Rapids Covenant Christian | 552 |
| 12 | McBain | 554 |
| 13 | Benzie Central | 564 |
| 14 | Elk Rapids | 595 |
| 15 | Kent City | 623 |
| 16 | Grass Lake | 659 |
| 17 | Saugatuck | 681 |
| 18 | Remus Chippewa Hills | 710 |
| 19 | Onsted | 728 |
| 20 | Midland Bullock Creek | 775 |
| 21 | Buchanan | 802 |
| 22 | Laingsburg | 858 |
| 23 | Monroe St. Mary CC | 888 |
| 24 | Bath | 910 |
| 25 | Quincy | 912 |
| 26 | Union City | 915 |
| 27 | Blissfield | 931 |
Overall Landscape
| Rank | Team | 2023 State Place | Scoring Returners | Varsity Returners |
| 1 | Pewamo-Westphalia | 4th | 4 of 5 | 5 of 7 |
| 2 | Lansing Catholic | 7th | 4 of 5 | 6 of 7 |
| 3 | Traverse City St. Francis | 2nd | 4 of 5 | 5 of 7 |
| 4 | Ithaca | 9th | 3 of 5 | 5 of 7 |
| 5 | Leslie | 16th | 4 of 5 | 5 of 7 |
| 6 | Stanton Central Montcalm | 8th | 5 of 5 | 7 of 7 |
| 7 | Hart | 10th | 4 of 5 | 6 of 7 |
| 8 | Jackson Lumen Christi | 1st | 3 of 5 | 5 of 7 |
| 9 | Clare | 23rd | 5 of 5 | 6 of 7 |
| 10 | Muskegon Western Michigan Christian | 3rd (D4) | 3 of 5 | 5 of 7 |
I wanted to change things up a bit regarding the Top Ten Teams. Over the past two summers, this has been a solid feature in the hype department, giving highlight to many kids on superb teams. One aspect I’ve felt that I’ve lacked is explaining how each team relates in comparison to others. I’ll attempt to do that here!
Included features are:
Strengths – characteristics making that team a contender.
Question Marks – any person or team that I write about here, I’m 100% confident you’ll shore up this “weaker” spot by year’s end. But this is a section that’ll look into why a team could be beat.
Looking Ahead – how the team might fare in their championship meets (conference, county, regional, state)
#1 Pewamo-Westphalia
Strengths
Their whole squad, but especially the Pirates’ top-three. Whitney Werner has already been detailed. Alyssa Kramer closed track with a fury, running 5:18/11:23. From their outstanding middle school program comes Adelyn Thelen, who was top-10 in all of her 8th grade races, typically in the mid-12’s.
Question Marks
I don’t believe they’ll cede any ground to other D3 teams, but perhaps their 4th runner on? Development will be their attack against this. Watch for Charlotte Simon, who was largely above 23 for much of last fall, but sped to a 12:33 in track.
Looking Ahead
The CMAC looks to be a P-W rout. Region 24 brings many of the same teams but adds Stanton Central Montcalm, who will make it more of a test. Greater Lansing intrigues me. The Pirates were 6th last year, now they appear to have the requisite depth to place in the top-3, if not top-2.
#2 Lansing Catholic
Strengths
Incoming freshman. You know you’ve got some talent coming in when you’re replacing Tessa Roe, but rising in the rankings. Isabelle Currie capped off an unbeaten 8th grade season with a win at Jr. Greater Lansing. Josie Bishop has apparently been running near her in practice, which makes sense given her 2:21/5:11 from 8th grade track.
Question Marks
The fifth spot. This is where St. Francis could gain ground and Pewamo-Westphalia will likely vault the Cougars. Avery Miller looks to be a girl that could shore this up for LC. Her 5:50’s in the 1600m indicate a move into the 20’s is possible.
Looking Ahead
These girls have won a million straight CAAC White titles and I don’t see the streak stopping. As with P-W, Greater Lansing should be a test that jumps off the final bit of their season. The field is probably a little stronger than what they’ll see at the D3 finals, but will be a good preview of how each team matches up in a pack. Right now, I have LC in the third spot. Then of course, there’s Region 26 where Leslie will be looking for revenge.
#3 Traverse City St. Francis
Strengths
Strength up front. I can 100% see a world where St. Francis is right there with LC and P-W through three runners. Betsy Skendzel has been featured in the 50 Tickets. Molly Kate Hollandsworth just ran 45 seconds faster than 2023’s time trial, a season where she finished in the mid-19’s. Mary Masserant comes off a track season where she placed 16th in the D3 800m.
Question Marks
The Gladiator 4th spot is a bit weaker than what LC and P-W are throwing out there. One cause for optimism may be Paige Ritchie, who was unable to complete her sophomore season. Her Two Mile Time Trial (thankful for these results!) was nearly a minute faster than what she ran last year, and it looked as if she was trending towards the 20’s before her season ended in mid-September.
Looking Ahead
In my unofficial, unposted, Up North rankings (and those are the real Up North boundaries, mind you), St. Francis is ranked #2 behind Traverse City West. TC West isn’t listed in the Northern Michigan MoC entries, making the Glads the favorites there. Along with Region 19, TCSF will be tested, but will have a great chance of being on a winning streak heading into State.
#4 Ithaca
Strengths
The first three Yellowjackets. I like the mix of experience and youth. Khloe Lehnst comes in as an experienced freshman, running her entire life and winning as an 8th grader. Myleigh Hephner improved tremendously from her 9th to 10th grade years, knocking more than 2 minutes off her best time with a 19:37 at State. Makinna Foglesong was the 11th best D3 freshman in the 3200m.
Question Marks
There aren’t many strikingly weak spots, except for perhaps what they’ll be doing beyond their top three. I have Ithaca as the 5th best D3 team from the fourth spot on (Hart and the top-3 ahead). Ithaca always has one of the higher numbers of athletes in the division, so there are many girls to pull from that could fill in those spots.
Looking Ahead
Just as the boys, they’re heavy favorites in Region 25 and as one of the smaller teams in their new TVC division, resigned to letting Alma/Frankenmuth/Freeland battle it out. Though I bet fighting D2 teams will benefit the Yellowjackets come November.
#5 Leslie
Strengths
Depth extending into what projects to be their 6th runner. Currently, I have Mia Papendick in that slot, a girl that was pretty consistently in the mid-21’s for much of her freshman year. She and her fellow Blackhawks have the real possibility of pushing back many D3 scorers.
Question Marks
Just as Hart below, the lack of a true low stick. Leslie is a bit further ahead, with girls such as Hailey Creisher, Erin Lubahn, and Jaidyn Smith who have all run in the 19’s at some point in their career.
Looking Ahead
After yeeeears of Hanover-Horton reigning supreme in the Cascades Conference, last year Leslie won their first conference title ever. As of now, I have the Blackhawks as the favorite to repeat. Perhaps a new streak is on the horizon. After conference rivalries, they’ll head to Algonac and look to knock off Lansing Catholic, who came ahead on Possum Hollow’s hills last fall.
#6 Stanton Central Montcalm
Strengths
The Hornet triumvirate. Kyah Hoffman has been written about in the 50 Tickets. Ashley Choponis has been 12th in the past two State Finals. Grace Coston was the final All-Stater last fall. There will be a sea of Green stingers coming through the line early in any meet these past few months.
Question Marks
Depth beyond those three, especially at the five spot. Thankfully, there should be enough of an advantage in smaller meets throughout the year, however, that weakness could bite SCM at the end of the year.
Looking Ahead
The CSAA Silver will likely be between SCM and Kent City. The Hornets swept all four of the jamborees last year. Having a strong three helps in small meets and it appears they’ll be the favorites again thanks to that fact. It’ll be a tough regional over in 24 with regard to winning, but expect Central Montcalm to again make it to Brooklyn.
#7 Hart
Strengths
Some of the best depth in the division. Whereas other squads have weak spots later in their varsity lineup, Hart should be able to move up the standings late in races. Much of this comes from their middle school program, delivering incoming freshmen such as Alaina Schaner, Joselyn Flores, and Brynn Riley. All three hovered around 13-flat and were key members of a team that placed top-3 at Shepherd and Spartan, grabbed 8th at Portage, and won West Michigan.
Question Marks
The lack of a big-time low stick. The benefit of having a scorer near the front is a team only has to concern themselves with scoring at four spots (or perhaps, three). The Pirates will likely be scoring points from the get go, though their tremendous depth will make up for it on the back end.
Looking Ahead
Just as the boys squad, it looks to be smooth sailin’ through much of championship season. What I find remarkable about the program is the Pirates have found success despite being in an area not known for its distance running. When faced with local competition, teams have no choice but to up their game. In their immediate area of the Lake Michigan coast, the Pirates have been dominating for years.
Anyhow, that tremendous depth should wrap up a Region 20 title before they head off to Brooklyn.
#8 Jackson Lumen Christi
Strengths
Championship experience. Samantha Schroeder, Macy Fazekas, Layla Lopez, and Thia Tello all played prominent roles on Lumen Christi’s 2023 title squad. They’re all back and know what it takes to be successful on the MIS starting line.
Question Marks
Beyond those four, who steps up? Maybe a Helen Lefere or Mia Sanchez, who each moved up in distance during track, running in the 13:40’s for the 3200m.
Looking Ahead
Just as the boys, I really wish the Catholic League had a more consistent membership. I know the Titans competed in their meets in 2023, but they’re not on the LC schedule as of now. So we look to Region 23, where Onsted will be looking to pull off a monumental upset.
#9 Clare
Strengths
Sophia Buzzelli and potential. My current projection of the Clare top-seven is that six of the Pioneers are freshmen or sophomores. Young folks are often polarizing. A few of them rapidly get the hang of racing and you’ve got a team on a roll heading to State. Panning out takes a bit longer, well, you may have to wait until 2026. Buzzelli is a known quantity, winning the final Jack Pine Jamboree and placing 28th in D3.
Question Marks
Mentioned above, the question is if the freshmen live up to what they could run. Elizabeth Letherer and Lauren Leis could be two points of stability. Letherer had her best efforts at the end of the year, slipping into the 20’s on a fast East Jordan course. Leis was right ahead of Liz, hitting 20:30 at East Jordan.
Looking Ahead
The US-127 Battle will occur again. Shepherd claimed victory during track, Clare will attempt to wrest it back during cross. It appears these two are the contenders for the Jack Pine title. With the Northern Michigan Championship curiously shutting down, the Northern Michigan MoC in Cadillac picks up a few more teams. Of the 20+ team field, Clare can definitely get into the top-5. Hit the link for Region 19.
#10 Muskegon Western Michigan Christian
Strengths
Senior leadership. What better than to learn from Grace VanderKooi? The Warriors are also fairly solid through four. Morgan Lawrence was on the record-breaking 4×8 outfit. As freshmen, both Leah Sneller and Kaylie Riksen placed in the top-50 at D4 State.
Question Marks
Finding a fifth girl. Sofia Blanco, Hallie Lindale, and Ana Luz were all in the 22/23’s last fall. If one can emerge and drop a little time, WMC will subsequently move up.
Looking Ahead
Last year, the Warriors went and took it to their area D1-3 squads, winning GMAA. This fall, I think they’ll get a little fight back from Reeths-Puffer. Whatever happens, it’ll be a good kickstart to championship season, where in Region 21, WMC is an underdog to Covenant Christian.
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 