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The Regional Previews: Division 1, Region 9

Last Year

SUMMER PREVIEW
MID-SEASON
REGIONAL PROJECTIONS
THE RESULT

Girls

  1. Romeo (2nd)
  2. Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (19th)
  3. Macomb Dakota (16th)

Boys

  1. Romeo (8th)
  2. Port Huron Northern (15th)
  3. Fraser (25th)

Top 27 Teams

Previous years had top-25 teams, but there’s 27 (and sometimes more) team qualifiers and what does it hurt to add another two?

Girls

Romeo (Top 3), Macomb Dakota (25th), Rochester Hills Stoney Creek (27th)

Boys

Romeo (5th), Anchor Bay (25th)

(If your team isn’t listed in the images above or the scores below, you probably don’t have five returners, at least on ol’ athletic.net. I’m sure many of these teams will fill out their rosters by late October)

Projected Scores

PlaceGirls TeamScore
1Romeo24
2Macomb Dakota82
3Rochester Hills Stoney Creek84
4Fraser99
5Grosse Pointe South142
6Grosse Pointe North159
7Port Huron Northern258
8Anchor Bay261
9Chippewa Valley268
10St. Clair Shores Lakeview279
11Utica Eisenhower296
12L’Anse Creuse330
13L’Anse Creuse North341

PlaceBoys TeamScore
1Romeo45
2Anchor Bay97
3Macomb Dakota108
4L’Anse Creuse North130
5Port Huron Northern154
6Grosse Pointe South188
7Grosse Pointe North188
8Chippewa Valley208
9Fraser218
10Rochester Hills Stoney Creek238
11L’Anse Creuse276
12St. Clair Shores Lakeview319
13Utica Eisenhower334
14Warren Woods Tower412
15Warren DeLaSalle444
16Roseville515

Top Runners

I’m making a slight change for the Division 1 folks. Previous regional writeups had the top finishers, even if they were mentioned in the Top 10’s or 50 Tickets. Because so many Division 1 kids make up the top 50 returners (which makes sense, since D1 covers about 60% of the state), I’ll write about a few runners beyond those 50. This will hopefully extend a bit more coverage towards more deserving athletes. Some of the 50 have been covered, others will get their own post. Check the Summer Preview page or keep checking back until next Thursday for those.

Mariah Belmont, Macomb Dakota

Was able to compete a little bit during the fall, even missing a month of the season. Helped her Cougars qualify for State, placing 18th over here in Region 9. Come track we saw her back to her former self, at AAU Junior Olympics, placing 3rd in the 17-18 2k steeple and 4th in the 3k.

Grace Grupido, Fraser

I love how well-rounded she’s become. During her freshman track season, concentrated more on the longer distances, winning the MAC White 1600m and running 11:18 in the 3200m. As a sophomore, it was more of the shorter stuff, qualifying for State in the 800m, lowering her personal best by 10 seconds and winning the MAC White, Region 10, and Macomb County titles.

Leah Corby, Rochester Hills Stoney Creek

The rare link to a summer road race! Leah was the OVERALL female winner at Kayla O’Mara, running 18:15. Okay, I know XC isn’t run on the roads, but that course ain’t flat.

Jack DeWaele, Chippewa Valley

We saw the precursors during cross, where he whittled his time down to the mid-16’s by the end of the season. But man, the real eye opener came during track, where his 9:32 3200m (in less than ideal conditions, mind you) was a 38 sec. personal best.

Dylan Penberthy, L’Anse Creuse North

In his late season surge, Dylan was able to: win Marysville, set a massive PB here (15:47), place top-10 in Macomb County and the MAC, then found a way to place 30th at State to cap it off. For what it’s worth, my state projections had him 64th. I love those that prove the projections wrong.

Carter Fox, Macomb Dakota

Wholesale change between his sophomore and junior years. Whereas in 10th grade, he went sub-18 on three occasions, in 11th grade he was there on all but one race. And by there, I mean, he was in the 16’s for a majority of the year, including a 16:25 here.

Tyler Brothers, Utica Eisenhower

Closed his junior fall with seven consecutive sub-17’s, including a 16:18 at Goodells over here in Region 9. His ability to rise to the occasion came through in this spring’s Region 10, where he and his Eagle teammates came out of nowhere to make it in the 4x800m.

Zachary Rubicz, Anchor Bay

After being unable to complete his sophomore year of cross, made it all the way through his junior year. A junior year that featured his first sub-17 ever and a top-10 finish in Macomb County.

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The Top Tens: Division 4 Boys #3

THE SUMMER PREVIEW





2022 Results

MeetDivisionPlace
Pete MossSmall1st of 8
SpartanWhite6th of 31
BluejayGold5th of 11
PortageD42nd of 18
Northern MichiganSmall5th of 8
Region 281st of 6
Division 4 State2nd of 27



Top Returners

Malaki Gascho

Battled back from injury to contribute to the Cardinals’ 2nd place finish at State. Notched his 2nd consecutive All-State in the process. Track gives more of a glimpse, especially in the 3200m, his 9:48 (and 4th spot at State) showing he’ll be a frontrunner in D4.

Blake Fox

Has spent two consecutive years in the 16’s, capped off with two All-State finishes.

Jeremiah Witt

First season of cross as a sophomore featured two sub-18’s to close. But like many, look to track, where marks such as a 10:19 in the 3200m suggest an athlete that can drop significant time.

Dusty Layman

Set six personal bests during his junior season, and by the end of it had dropped nearly three minutes from his sophomore best.

Potential Newcomers

Drake Fulton

An athletic junior that apparently ran 19:30 at the Timberfest this past weekend on very little training.

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The Top Tens: Division 4 Girls #3

THE SUMMER PREVIEW





2022 Results

MeetDivisionPlace
Red DevilSmall3rd of 7
Inland Lakes1st of 8
Harbor Springs1st of 6
LMC Championship3rd of 7
Northern MichiganSmall3rd of 7
Region 281st of 6
Division 4 State5th of 27



Top Returners

Juniper Rodham

In both of her years, has ended with times in the 20’s, though a stark contrast in places. 102nd at 2021’s State Finals, 21st at the 2022 version.

Tara Shouldice

More than half of her freshman efforts were north of 25:00. More than half of her sophomore efforts were south of 21:30, including a 6th place finish in Region 28.

Lizzie Bassett

The best three races of her freshman season were her final three. Hard to pick the best of the bunch, but a 7th place in Region 28 stands out.

Fran Warren

I know East Jordan is a quick course, but even so, her 21:17 is easily her best performance of the year.

McKenzie Bowman

Another one that showed up and stepped out, leading the Rams to a Regional championship. Her 21:17 at East Jordan was 40+ seconds better than any time she displayed in 2022.

Grace Hayhurst

Subtracted 3+ minutes from her freshman PR.

Potential Newcomers

Stefi Reskevics

Undefeated on the track and only one defeat on the cross courses. A 5:35 in the 1600m might give a glimpse into her potential.

Genevieve Rodham

Twice in the 13’s last year, going as low as 13:17.

Drew Bowman

Two 8th grade results, both in the 13-min. range.