*** = State Title Contender ** = Top Ten Contender * = State Qualifying Contender WAB = Weighted Average Before. A listing of the previous week’s Top 5 Average. Not a perfect comparison as a team may not run their five best runners. But a show of how one ran relative to expectation.
*** = State Title Contender ** = Top Ten Contender * = State Qualifying Contender WAB = Weighted Average Before. A listing of the previous week’s Top 5 Average. Not a perfect comparison as a team may not run their five best runners. But a show of how one ran relative to expectation.
Post Portage and we’ve got a clear picture of the state outlook. Many teams and athletes battled the weekend’s heat, either putting in a memorable performance in adverse conditions, or maybe falling victim to the unusual conditions. A few teams proved that they’ll be a force in the coming weeks. Others will stew and look for revenge in a months’ time.
In the meantime, you get my own spin on rankings. It’s important to note that while there were some gigantic races over the weekend, this is a cumulative ranking. Great performances may move the needle in an upward direction, abnormally poor ones in a sea of great races won’t have too much of a downward effect.
As with the previous rankings, all meets with over 50 participants of each gender are included (even if the ratings themselves aren’t posted to the site, they’re in my database). The rankings take the individual ratings from each race and weigh them using factors of recency, field size, and field competitiveness. Those weighted ratings are then sorted by team, scored against the entire division, and ranked. Thus, teams with more depth tend to be ranked a little higher than they’d be at a regular invite or even the State Finals. But I know no better way to rank all the teams in a division than to compare against all teams in a division.
These are filtered a bit, a runner has to have competed in a race since September 12th (Spartan/Ottawa Hills day) at a race I’ve rated. Hopefully this accounts for injuries.
As always, these are for fun and a vehicle to drive interest in the best sport in the world. If they cause undue stress or pressure or motivate you to write me unkind messages (only happened a few times this year, but gotta get out ahead of it!), this site might not be for you. That’s fine, the many XC fans of Michigan will enjoy it all the same.
Podium Contenders
We were just witness to a preview of it at Portage. Maple City Glen Lake, Holland Calvary Christian, and Hillsdale Academy. The Lakers jumped out to an early lead, halving the scores of the latter two. By two, Calvary began to chip away at a little comeback, Hillsdale gaining points too. Over the final 1.1 miles, Calvary made a serious run for the D4 win, coming up two points short. Through a few runners, these teams are barely separated. Onto the fourth and fifth guys, that’s where Glen Lake found a bit of separation, scoring 37 points against HCC’s 48 and HA’s 59.
Rank
Team
Region
Score
Top 5 Avg.
Top 7 Avg.
Top 5 Spread
Top 7 Spread
1
Maple City Glen Lake
29
115
181.0
169.5
1:08
2:39
2
Holland Calvary Christian
31
146
179.5
173.3
1:31
1:48
3
Hillsdale Academy
34
158
176.7
172.5
1:52
2:20
4
Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart
30
239
169.7
158.1
1:42
3:18
5
Whitmore Lake
33
330
164.3
158.1
2:35
2:43
6
Kalamazoo Hackett
32
366
168.4
153.5
4:04
5:09
7
Petoskey St. Michael
28
403
158.1
142.5
2:12
4:02
8
Breckenridge
30
419
156.5
135.4
2:47
6:05
9
Royal Oak Shrine
36
448
158.7
147.3
3:59
4:22
10
Mesick
29
493
158.6
123.6
3:39
10:48
11
Riverview Gabriel Richard
36
515
151.6
139.6
3:20
4:15
12
Portland St. Patrick
31
566
146.6
3:00
13
Grand Traverse Academy
29
575
145.7
140.0
1:13
1:47
14
Genesee Christian Academy
33
616
143.7
120.9
3:14
6:02
15
Lutheran Westland
36
623
143.9
129.0
2:46
5:34
16
Fowler
31
626
142.9
134.4
2:21
2:59
17
Three Oaks River Valley
32
643
150.0
130.6
4:53
6:11
18
Gobles
31
666
140.3
129.7
1:15
3:18
19
Dryden
35
676
140.3
123.7
3:01
5:51
20
Ubly
35
681
140.0
3:29
21
Buckley
29
685
139.5
3:02
22
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary
30
700
138.6
126.0
3:15
4:08
23
Webberville
33
781
133.9
119.6
3:19
4:22
24
Leland
29
803
132.6
3:47
25
Concord
34
816
131.7
75.3
3:10
13:58
26
Manchester
34
831
131.1
115.1
3:17
5:21
27
Mason County Eastern
29
835
130.9
114.1
3:55
4:40
Major Moves
Genesee Christian had the largest leap of any D4 school, moving up 9 whole spots. Numerous PRs were set by their varsity members, four of ‘em spread between the Birch Run Fall Invite and Greater Flint. And the Soldiers held their own at each event, placing in the upper half of the standings in both races, despite having one of tinier enrollments in each field.
Rank
Team
Region
Score
C SZN
Move
1
Maple City Glen Lake
29
115
1
0
2
Holland Calvary Christian
31
146
2
0
3
Hillsdale Academy
34
158
3
0
4
Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart
30
239
4
0
5
Whitmore Lake
33
330
5
0
6
Kalamazoo Hackett
32
366
6
0
7
Petoskey St. Michael
28
403
8
-1
8
Breckenridge
30
419
7
1
9
Royal Oak Shrine
36
448
9
0
10
Mesick
29
493
10
0
11
Riverview Gabriel Richard
36
515
11
0
12
Portland St. Patrick
31
566
14
-2
13
Grand Traverse Academy
29
575
13
0
14
Genesee Christian Academy
33
616
23
-9
15
Lutheran Westland
36
623
15
0
16
Fowler
31
626
16
0
17
Three Oaks River Valley
32
643
21
-4
18
Gobles
31
666
17
1
19
Dryden
35
676
20
-1
20
Ubly
35
681
22
-2
21
Buckley
29
685
18
3
22
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary
30
700
19
3
23
Webberville
33
781
24
-1
24
Leland
29
803
12
12
25
Concord
34
816
28
-3
26
Manchester
34
831
26
0
27
Mason County Eastern
29
835
25
2
What’s Next?
A few squads taking the weekend off, Petoskey St. Michael heading up north of the bridge, another conference title on the line for Hillsdale Academy. And three teams heading to Gabriel Richard for some quick times on the Hudson Mills course. Marek Butkiewicz will return to the site of his first real run into the low-15’s. Also present will be one of his D4 competitors, Abenezer Cerone and his Royal Oak Shrine Knights.
Rank
Grade
Name
Team
CW Rating
Region
1
12
Marek Butkiewicz
Kalamazoo Hackett
213.4
32
2
12
Brody Karg
Harbor Beach
206.3
35
3
12
Abenezer Cerone
Royal Oak Shrine
204.7
36
4
12
Grayson Rorick
Hillsdale Academy
204.5
34
5
12
Landon Rogers
Three Oaks River Valley
202.3
32
6
11
Kyle Redman
Mesick
199.2
29
7
12
Landen Livingston
Whitmore Lake
196.0
33
8
11
Ty Redman
Mesick
195.2
29
9
12
Sean Siems
Kalamazoo Hackett
193.4
32
10
9
Mason Rogers
Three Oaks River Valley
193.2
32
11
10
Lincoln Laansma
Tri-Unity Christian
192.1
31
12
11
Abraham Feeney
Maple City Glen Lake
191.9
29
13
11
Christian Getz
Holland Calvary Christian
191.8
31
14
11
Noah Schipper
Holland Calvary Christian
191.6
31
15
9
Spencer McNitt
Maple City Glen Lake
191.5
29
16
12
Carson Burgess
Brown City
190.9
35
17
11
Brady Edwards
Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart
187.1
30
18
11
Jacob Ferdubinski
Riverview Gabriel Richard
186.1
36
19
12
Joel Johnson
Detroit Frederick Douglass
184.3
36
20
12
Cody Bradley
Petoskey St. Michael
183.5
28
21
11
Gibson White
Holland Calvary Christian
182.3
31
22
11
Anthony Rowe
Breckenridge
182.0
30
23
9
Christian Feeney
Maple City Glen Lake
177.3
29
24
12
Jonah Pollatz
Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart
177.0
30
25
12
Max Brannan
Lutheran Westland
176.1
36
26
11
Daniel Chaney
Lake Leelanau St. Mary
175.4
29
27
12
Liam McCaw
Maple City Glen Lake
175.3
29
28
10
Leo Weaver
Whitmore Lake
174.2
33
29
12
Jack Sharar
Rogers City
174.0
28
30
12
Luke Molenkamp
Hillsdale Academy
173.5
34
31
11
Wesley Chaffee
Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart
173.2
30
32
9
Gavin Bowers
Austin Catholic
172.0
36
33
12
Michael Bowker
Royal Oak Shrine
171.8
36
34
12
Logan Romain
Dryden
171.6
35
35
10
Levi Fitchett
Dryden
171.5
35
36
12
Timothy Chamberlain
Portland St. Patrick
171.5
31
37
12
Reuben Jiran
Novi Christian Academy
171.2
33
38
11
Brody VanTuinen
Holland Calvary Christian
170.5
31
39
12
Quentin Smith
Fowler
170.4
31
40
12
Henry Lindley
Hillsdale Academy
170.3
34
41
11
Amos Norder
Saginaw Michigan Lutheran Seminary
169.6
30
42
11
Lincoln Bailey
Maple City Glen Lake
169.2
29
43
10
Owen Jarosz
Frankfort
169.0
29
44
10
Nathan West
Webberville
168.6
33
45
9
Ethan Harrand
Buckley
168.3
29
46
11
Timothy Gaebler
Hillsdale Academy
168.1
34
47
11
Elias Baldwin
Decatur
167.9
32
48
12
Rich Fanti
Riverview Gabriel Richard
167.6
36
49
12
James Rahe
Hillsdale Academy
167.3
34
50
12
Jesse Fielis
White Pigeon
167.0
32
Podium Contenders
I wouldn’t call it a 100% guarantee, but Jackson Lumen Christi has locked down the pole position. The Titans used Portage as a test run of patience, hanging back in the first mile, then leaping to the lead at two. Although a few of their runners faded down the stretch, Peter Soltis and Avery Morrow slammed the door shut on any competition, passing 9 runners in the final 1.1 miles. What the Titans have in their favor is depth, their fifth was 10 sec. clear of any other team’s final scoring spot.
On the outside, but still with a shot are Saugatuck and Charlevoix. Through four boys, the Trailblazers were there, besting Lumen Christi by 16 points. And we know they’ve got a penchant for clutch performances in November, last year being a prime indicator. We don’t have much data on the Rayders in these big meets, save for one – Bluejay. There in the Elite division, Charlevoix was able to place in the top-10, many spots clear of a few fellow ranked teams.
Rank
Team
Region
Score
Top 5 Avg.
Top 7 Avg.
Top 5 Spread
Top 7 Spread
1
Jackson Lumen Christi
23
197
184.4
178.3
0:51
1:34
2
Saugatuck
22
229
181.7
174.2
0:50
1:49
3
Charlevoix
19
232
188.5
177.7
2:12
3:25
4
Ithaca
25
275
180.1
164.8
0:54
3:45
5
Lansing Catholic
26
318
177.1
174.1
0:41
0:49
6
Benzie Central
20
400
175.5
170.7
1:12
1:51
7
Stanton Central Montcalm
24
440
176.4
168.0
2:28
3:17
8
The Potter’s House
21
445
174.3
168.9
1:42
2:08
9
Buchanan
22
469
173.4
163.2
1:49
2:53
10
Hanover-Horton
23
505
171.9
165.8
1:47
2:16
11
Jonesville
23
522
172.4
157.7
2:42
4:22
12
Hart
20
561
167.8
166.2
0:20
0:27
13
Holland Black River
21
636
167.8
152.9
2:36
3:59
14
Ann Arbor Greenhills
26
646
165.8
156.0
1:15
2:29
15
Grand Rapids Covenant Christian
21
689
164.5
157.1
1:12
2:20
16
Plymouth Christian Academy
26
698
165.1
147.9
2:37
3:51
17
Lake City
20
709
163.8
151.3
1:51
3:53
18
Reed City
20
733
163.3
156.0
1:53
2:45
19
Muskegon Western Michigan Christian
21
747
162.7
145.1
1:59
4:16
20
Caro
25
752
165.5
154.0
3:03
4:05
21
Pewamo-Westphalia
24
755
163.3
153.5
2:19
2:52
22
Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian
21
792
160.8
156.0
1:15
1:28
23
Pigeon-Laker
25
847
160.4
146.3
2:20
4:09
24
Traverse City St. Francis
19
853
158.9
144.9
0:59
3:29
25
Midland Bullock Creek
25
879
159.8
148.7
2:21
4:01
26
Erie Mason
27
917
156.8
151.1
1:19
1:48
27
Montrose
24
928
156.9
146.1
1:39
3:12
Major Moves
A whopping 16 of the top-27 teams from the Championship Season Rankings were present at Portage, Muskegon Western Michigan Christian occupying the second-to-last ranking spot of the bunch. The actual results from the actual race elicited a different result, with the Warriors beating five teams ranked ahead of them. From their main folk, there wasn’t much in terms of PRs, just honest efforts. And on a day where many were succumbing to the conditions, that steadiness is often enough to pull a few upsets.
Rank
Team
Region
Score
C SZN
Move
1
Jackson Lumen Christi
23
197
1
0
2
Saugatuck
22
229
2
0
3
Charlevoix
19
232
3
0
4
Ithaca
25
275
4
0
5
Lansing Catholic
26
318
5
0
6
Benzie Central
20
400
6
0
7
Stanton Central Montcalm
24
440
7
0
8
The Potter’s House
21
445
8
0
9
Buchanan
22
469
9
0
10
Hanover-Horton
23
505
11
-1
11
Jonesville
23
522
12
-1
12
Hart
20
561
13
-1
13
Holland Black River
21
636
10
3
14
Ann Arbor Greenhills
26
646
14
0
15
Grand Rapids Covenant Christian
21
689
16
-1
16
Plymouth Christian Academy
26
698
15
1
17
Lake City
20
709
20
-3
18
Reed City
20
733
21
-3
19
Muskegon Western Michigan Christian
21
747
24
-5
20
Caro
25
752
19
1
21
Pewamo-Westphalia
24
755
17
4
22
Grand Rapids NorthPointe Christian
21
792
18
4
23
Pigeon-Laker
25
847
23
0
24
Traverse City St. Francis
19
853
22
2
25
Midland Bullock Creek
25
879
30
-5
26
Erie Mason
27
917
25
1
27
Montrose
24
928
28
-1
What’s Next?
A day of rest and relaxation will be had for many of the top squads, sans three. Jackson Lumen Christi will take its turn on the fast course, hitting up Hudson Mills. The Potter’s House will keep it close to home at Kent Ottawa. And Lansing Catholic will look to shake it up with the big schools at Greater Lansing. Last fall, the Cougars were 6th at Ledge Meadows, then 9th in Division 3.
Rank
Grade
Name
Team
CW Rating
Region
1
11
Hunter Eaton
Charlevoix
211.2
19
2
12
Gage Hoffman
Stanton Central Montcalm
204.9
24
3
11
Luke Herron
Caro
202.2
25
4
10
Nole Lorenzen
Rochester Hills Lutheran NW
201.3
26
5
10
Christian Craanen
Monroe St. Mary CC
200.7
27
6
11
Ryder Hopkins
Charlevoix
197.9
19
7
10
Will Hulin
Centreville
197.4
23
8
11
Caleb Blonde
Jonesville
196.4
23
9
12
Edward Mugisha
The Potter’s House
196.3
21
10
12
Jayden Fox
Saginaw Valley Lutheran
195.8
25
11
12
Matthew Solomon
Charlevoix
195.4
19
12
12
Tyler Leach
Otisville LakeVille
194.2
24
13
12
Gibson Shore
Jackson Lumen Christi
194.2
23
14
11
Chad Tyson
Hanover-Horton
193.6
23
15
10
Owen Poppema
Bath
193.3
24
16
10
Clint Couchman
Brooklyn Columbia Central
193.3
23
17
11
Jonas Ballard
Holland Black River
192.0
21
18
11
John Keser
Buchanan
191.9
22
19
11
Logan Youngman
Hillsdale
191.6
23
20
12
Noah Devereaux
Laingsburg
191.4
24
21
10
Eli VanPoortfliet
Benzie Central
189.7
20
22
11
Rocky Bolton
Jackson Lumen Christi
189.2
23
23
11
Marshall Brandt
Midland Bullock Creek
189.1
25
24
11
Marcus Silva
Saugatuck
188.7
22
25
12
Landen Styka
Ithaca
188.4
25
26
12
Jeryn Frisbie
Belding
187.6
21
27
12
Qwynn Darnell
Elk Rapids
187.4
19
28
12
Jacob Mankey
Ithaca
186.9
25
29
11
Grant Rehkopf
Saugatuck
186.8
22
30
11
Evan Olson
Pigeon-Laker
186.5
25
31
12
Jackson Schaub
Benzie Central
185.9
20
32
12
Paul Saladin
Reed City
184.5
20
33
10
Soren Crosthwaite
Jackson Lumen Christi
184.2
23
34
11
William Gancer
Stockbridge
184.2
26
35
11
John Kowatch
Pewamo-Westphalia
183.7
24
36
11
Isaac Dionne
Boyne City
183.4
19
37
12
Trenton Fetter
Adrian Madison
183.2
27
38
11
James Tennes
Lansing Catholic
182.4
26
39
11
Evan MacLaren
Ithaca
182.3
25
40
10
Michael Weidmayer
Blissfield
182.0
27
41
11
Sawyer Monroe
Saugatuck
181.2
22
42
12
John Edler
Homer
181.1
23
43
12
Liam McBeth
Buchanan
180.9
22
44
10
Tristan Hernandez
Kingsley
180.8
20
45
10
Grant Corlew
Harbor Springs
180.6
19
46
12
Lucas Gates
Lansing Catholic
180.6
26
47
12
Caiden Helsel
Lake City
180.5
20
48
10
Wyatt Roberts
Otisville LakeVille
180.2
24
49
10
Jackson Bowman
Saugatuck
180.0
22
50
9
Isaac Cox
Plymouth Christian Academy
179.9
26
Podium Contenders
Three teams have seemingly separated themselves from the field: Flint Powers Catholic, East Grand Rapids, and Alma. Differing from other divisions, Bluejay was the preview for this, with the Chargers coming out ahead in a dominant performance. However, the Pioneers were missing Jonah Workman, who missed little time returning to form in a runner-up effort at Portage. The Panthers had the weekend off, but were so impressed by Flint Powers that they drove to Flint and ran to Alma (homecoming ball run).
EGR and FPC have a bit of a gap on Alma, but I wouldn’t be shocked if the mid-Michigan crew can take down any carnage from the ferocious battle for first.
Rank
Team
Region
Score
Top 5 Avg.
Top 7 Avg.
Top 5 Spread
Top 7 Spread
1
Flint Powers Catholic
15
126
198.6
191.4
0:58
1:52
2
East Grand Rapids
12
166
198.5
193.8
1:26
1:48
3
Alma
14
278
194.6
189.8
1:32
1:46
4
Grand Rapids Christian
12
305
189.8
186.7
0:57
1:05
5
Holland Christian
11
380
186.0
183.9
0:28
0:48
6
Parma Western
14
437
186.0
181.1
1:23
1:40
7
Shepherd
15
479
184.8
178.7
1:28
2:20
8
Otsego
13
526
182.0
172.3
0:48
2:08
9
Forest Hills Eastern
12
557
184.2
178.1
1:47
2:00
10
Cedar Springs
10
564
181.2
177.0
1:03
1:29
11
DeWitt
14
610
180.3
174.9
1:15
1:37
12
Fenton
16
619
182.4
177.2
2:05
2:16
13
Allendale
11
648
185.5
174.0
2:36
3:29
14
Three Rivers
13
657
179.2
172.4
1:33
1:52
15
Richland Gull Lake
13
695
177.5
173.0
0:57
1:23
16
Frankenmuth
15
703
179.7
168.3
1:47
3:02
17
Edwardsburg
13
711
177.3
170.2
1:13
2:23
18
Spring Lake
10
739
177.0
170.3
1:14
1:59
19
Pinckney
16
752
178.1
174.7
1:49
1:56
20
Grand Rapids South Christian
12
781
175.5
168.9
1:30
1:51
21
Petoskey
10
782
175.5
170.0
1:08
1:37
22
Adrian
18
798
177.1
169.7
1:56
2:42
23
Whitehall
10
803
180.3
169.3
3:16
4:02
24
Macomb Lutheran North
17
874
174.9
167.5
1:42
2:33
25
Chelsea
18
885
173.7
169.2
1:23
1:36
26
Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard
18
928
172.2
167.6
0:52
1:18
27
Detroit Country Day
16
929
173.1
161.7
2:25
3:03
Major Moves
Everything just kinda… stayed the same? There was only one team that moved more than two spots and that was Frankenmuth. The Eagles have soared thanks to Cole Pergram gradually returning to form and Nick Parker being on a tear. Save for their tough home course, Parker has been in the 16’s on every occasion and just blasted a personal best at Greater Flint, where ‘Muth was the runner-up behind Powers.
Rank
Team
Region
Score
C SZN
Move
1
Flint Powers Catholic
15
126
1
0
2
East Grand Rapids
12
166
2
0
3
Alma
14
278
3
0
4
Grand Rapids Christian
12
305
4
0
5
Holland Christian
11
380
5
0
6
Parma Western
14
437
6
0
7
Shepherd
15
479
7
0
8
Otsego
13
526
9
-1
9
Forest Hills Eastern
12
557
11
-2
10
Cedar Springs
10
564
8
2
11
DeWitt
14
610
13
-2
12
Fenton
16
619
14
-2
13
Allendale
11
648
12
1
14
Three Rivers
13
657
10
4
15
Richland Gull Lake
13
695
15
0
16
Frankenmuth
15
703
19
-3
17
Edwardsburg
13
711
16
1
18
Spring Lake
10
739
17
1
19
Pinckney
16
752
18
1
20
Grand Rapids South Christian
12
781
21
-1
21
Petoskey
10
782
22
-1
22
Adrian
18
798
20
2
23
Whitehall
10
803
24
-1
24
Macomb Lutheran North
17
874
23
1
25
Chelsea
18
885
25
0
26
Ann Arbor Gabriel Richard
18
928
27
-1
27
Detroit Country Day
16
929
26
1
What’s Next?
Once again, many taking the weekend off with a few exceptions. Shepherd and Alma return from their respective homecoming weekends, the Bluejays heading up the road to Mt. Pleasant and the Panthers traveling down 27 to Greater Lansing. Flint Powers will be at Kayla O’Mara, Grand Rapids Christian hosting Kent Ottawa. The greatest interest for my eyes will be Greater Lansing, a meet where Alma placed 2nd a year ago. First place is within their grasp, but a stout Grand Ledge team will be in the way. If it’s close, I think that’s a good sign for the Panthers in the weeks to come.
Rank
Grade
Name
Team
CW Rating
Region
1
11
Robert Jazwinski III
Whitehall
218.7
10
2
12
Jonah Workman
East Grand Rapids
216.3
12
3
11
Ezekiel Baltierra
Alma
211.5
14
4
10
Lennox Naswell
Flint Powers Catholic
210.5
15
5
12
Thomas Larson
Alma
209.5
14
6
11
Mason Hill
Allendale
208.2
11
7
10
Gavin Katic
Fenton
207.9
16
8
10
Micah Becker
East Grand Rapids
205.6
12
9
11
Caiden Caswell
Vicksburg
204.7
13
10
11
Mitchell Dunlap
Grand Rapids Catholic Central
204.2
11
11
12
Vincent Pattison
Goodrich
204.1
15
12
11
Cole McCraw
Pinckney
204.0
16
13
11
Steven Zawacki
Forest Hills Eastern
202.7
12
14
12
Bryce Gross
Flint Powers Catholic
202.7
15
15
11
Bryce Cahoon
Shepherd
202.6
15
16
12
Ronnie Silveira
Allendale
202.6
11
17
12
Edison Lopeman
Parma Western
201.8
14
18
12
Moises Salazar Jr.
Adrian
201.3
18
19
12
Sean Ryan
Grand Rapids Christian
199.4
12
20
12
Brett Magnus
Frankenmuth
199.1
15
21
12
Cole Wisniewski
Orchard Lake St. Mary’s
199.0
16
22
12
Aden Ashworth
Allendale
198.9
11
23
11
Abraham McHugh
Marshall
198.2
13
24
12
Shephard Bower
Forest Hills Eastern
197.6
12
25
12
Jacob Stanislawski
Flat Rock
197.0
18
26
10
Ashton Fink
Grand Rapids Christian
196.1
12
27
10
Ryan Rathsburg
Flint Powers Catholic
195.4
15
28
12
Jack Edison
East Grand Rapids
195.3
12
29
12
Aiden Weller
Cedar Springs
195.3
10
30
12
Murphy Wagner
Saginaw Swan Valley
195.0
15
31
11
Joshua Macri
Macomb Lutheran North
194.6
17
32
12
Jacob Hylton
Ortonville Brandon
194.3
15
33
12
Asher Jager
GR West Michigan Aviation
193.9
12
34
12
Caleb Carignan
Flint Powers Catholic
193.6
15
35
12
Ben Verellen
Gladwin
193.6
10
36
10
Jack Hincks
Detroit Country Day
193.2
16
37
12
Carson Wood
Sparta
193.1
11
38
11
Owen Adams
Spring Lake
192.9
10
39
12
Charlie Brauer
Three Rivers
192.5
13
40
11
Nick Parker
Frankenmuth
192.0
15
41
12
George Scupham
Edwardsburg
191.9
13
42
9
Logan Cristian
Parma Western
191.8
14
43
10
Aiden Lambers
Holland
191.6
11
44
11
Christopher Vogt
Paw Paw
191.6
13
45
12
Landon Gerritsma
Holland Christian
191.5
11
46
12
Jack Estelle
Hopkins
191.1
11
47
12
Tommy Beiter
Flint Powers Catholic
191.1
15
48
9
Grant Lampen
Holland Christian
190.6
11
49
10
Gerard Gilmour
Fenton
190.5
16
50
12
Braylon Lenneman
DeWitt
190.5
14
Podium Contenders
One team was prominent early, the other has been rising and rising before a surprise Saturday win. Northville had a few early wins, at Bath and at Spartan. Ann Arbor Pioneer had taken care of business in SEC action, then beat a host of ranked squads at Jackson. The two finally came together at Portage, the purple-clad gents racing to an early lead and never giving it up. Pioneer is in a great spot, two certain frontrunners and a rapidly improving crew behind them. Northville seems to be going through a bit of a lull, missing two of their varsity runners, another just returning from injury. If both teams are at full strength, this could be a great close to the day at MIS.
Rank
Team
Region
Score
Top 5 Avg.
Top 7 Avg.
Top 5 Spread
Top 7 Spread
1
Northville
7
147
204.3
200.4
1:07
1:17
2
Ann Arbor Pioneer
5
296
202.6
196.9
1:52
2:06
3
Lowell
3
305
197.8
186.8
1:09
3:21
4
Kalamazoo Central
3
319
197.2
192.1
1:17
1:42
5
Grand Ledge
4
334
195.1
189.2
0:31
1:18
6
Ann Arbor Skyline
4
445
192.1
190.0
0:25
0:37
7
Traverse City West
2
458
192.1
189.5
0:37
0:44
8
Midland
2
473
191.4
188.5
0:20
0:43
9
Brighton
4
544
190.5
187.5
0:38
1:04
10
Saline
5
581
190.5
186.1
1:08
1:23
11
Portage Central
3
582
189.9
184.8
1:07
1:16
12
Romeo
9
585
189.4
184.7
0:34
1:18
13
Grand Blanc
2
609
189.8
186.7
1:03
1:09
14
Caledonia
3
619
189.5
184.9
1:06
1:23
15
Traverse City Central
2
630
189.6
182.2
1:02
1:51
16
Zeeland West
3
637
188.6
186.1
0:41
0:46
17
Salem
6
667
189.0
184.4
1:06
1:28
18
Clarkston
8
670
188.9
184.7
1:19
1:30
19
East Kentwood
3
684
190.2
184.2
1:21
1:49
20
Jenison
1
697
187.3
185.3
0:18
0:31
21
Holland West Ottawa
3
714
186.8
184.3
0:09
0:52
22
Brownstown Woodhaven
5
768
186.6
182.3
1:10
1:22
23
Highland-Milford
2
799
189.8
183.0
2:18
2:41
24
Rockford
1
835
185.2
178.3
1:21
1:49
25
Grand Haven
1
857
188.7
179.6
2:08
2:57
26
Saginaw Heritage
2
878
184.3
181.4
0:29
0:50
27
Rochester
8
963
183.3
175.1
1:37
2:14
Major Moves
Not necessarily this week, but over the past two, Saline has been a major mover, 17th in mid-September to now 10th. The Hornets had top-10 finishes at both Jackson and Portage to go along with a 2nd place finish in the 2nd SEC Jamboree, besting fellow top-10 conference foe Ann Arbor Skyline. Jacob Cole has run some of his better races of late, as has Jacob Szalay. And I wouldn’t be shocked if freshman Gavin Bast surprises at season’s end. The 9th grader is on the cusp of breaking 17:00 and endured the Portage heat quite well.
Rank
Team
Region
Score
C SZN
Move
1
Northville
7
147
1
0
2
Ann Arbor Pioneer
5
296
5
-3
3
Lowell
3
305
2
1
4
Kalamazoo Central
3
319
3
1
5
Grand Ledge
4
334
4
1
6
Ann Arbor Skyline
4
445
6
0
7
Traverse City West
2
458
7
0
8
Midland
2
473
8
0
9
Brighton
4
544
10
-1
10
Saline
5
581
11
-1
11
Portage Central
3
582
9
2
12
Romeo
9
585
13
-1
13
Grand Blanc
2
609
15
-2
14
Caledonia
3
619
14
0
15
Traverse City Central
2
630
16
-1
16
Zeeland West
3
637
12
4
17
Salem
6
667
19
-2
18
Clarkston
8
670
18
0
19
East Kentwood
3
684
17
2
20
Jenison
1
697
20
0
21
Holland West Ottawa
3
714
22
-1
22
Brownstown Woodhaven
5
768
21
1
23
Highland-Milford
2
799
26
-3
24
Rockford
1
835
23
1
25
Grand Haven
1
857
24
1
26
Saginaw Heritage
2
878
25
1
27
Rochester
8
963
27
0
What’s Next?
Teams are heading all over the place – to River Rat, Gabriel Richard, Freeland, Oiler, Greater Lansing. To my particular interest is Traverse City West, who will be down in Mt. Pleasant at their regional course. The Titans had a subpar performance at Bluejay and nothing since, two weeks to stew over it. They’ll face a solid test and Region 2 preview against Milford, fresh off an Oakland County victory (and sorely underrated here, one race away from greatly moving up the rankings).
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 