Track season didn’t just contain a personal best in the 3200m, she also lowered her 1600m from 5:22 to 5:15. In both events, she was able to earn top-5 finishes in the SEC Red.
Keeps finding herself in the toughest two track events. Her championship season in May featured being a Hornet teammate on the 4×4 and 4×8, a personal best (2:17) in the SEC Championship, and tune-ups in the 1600m and 400m that also featured personal bests.
You won’t find many competitors more dedicated to their craft and their community. Aiden found success early in his career, one of those sub-12 eighth graders that I often write about. He used that young talent and turned it into a freshman year where he was an immediate contributor on the Lakeview squad, during championship season manning the 3rd spot behind Caleb Bost and Parker LaGro. Continued growth through the winter with Project 131 and his sophomore fall (featuring many 16-min. efforts) paved the way for a record-breaking junior year.
The first record to truly fall was one of his own, a 16:15 at Portage’s Early Bird (three days away!), which was quickly vanquished by a sub-16 at his home invite. Coming through with a 15:45 on the long, rolling downhills of Sharp Park, Aiden was finally able to capture the Spartans’ school record, which he reset on two more occasions. All this time and talk about records, well, he can get it done in terms of competition too, placing top-3 in the SMAC and Region 3, winning in Calhoun County, and stepping on the podium at MIS.
I truly believe that records and medals and success are aided by a person’s contributions to their community. If you give to your team, are grateful towards those in sport, accomplishments seem to come your way. I have no doubt that Aiden has benefitted from his genuine love for others, to the tune of All-States, another school record in the spring, and more honors in the future.
It’s getting to be that time of the year where I recite Clara’s triathlon accomplishments without much of a clue what they mean. What I gather from social media and news articles is that she’s again one of the better juniors in the United States, placing top-3 at USA Juniors and 40th in the Junior World Championships.
What I’m more well-versed in is running and I was happy to see her on the comeback trail during her junior year. After her 10th grade season was cut short in early October, I wondered if elite level running had perhaps taken a back seat to the triathlon. Clara has answered that with a resounding NO. Her cross season elicited her first sub-18 at the high school level, speeding to 17:49 with her OK White friends. Weeks later, an 11th place finish at State was her best at MIS in her two appearances. Come track, she was able to run her fastest 3200m in three years.
And given the summer in the saddle, in the water, and burning up the roads, we know she’s fit and ready to crack that top-10 in Division 1.
Michigan XC Speed Ratings 