Flashback to Summer 2020, I kept hearing about this Sebastian kid who would be a freshman at Royal Oak. Being the cynical, jaded, cautious man I am, I wanted to wait and see
Then the results started coming in, an 18:30 at the Hansons River Bends race, an 18:07 at Hess Hathaway, and the cautiousness had to fade – this kid is for real
That freshman year ended at Regionals, but his freshman track year ended up with a 2nd place in both the 1600 and 3200m at freshman Oakland County
And his 10:20 placed him 2nd on Royal Oak’s all-time freshman list, behind only the 9th grade state record holder
In his sophomore year of cross country, he had a little more success, qualifying for State, finishing top-10 in Oakland County, but once again track is where he really shined
He came up big on a regional day, needing to hit 9:36 with a previous best of 9:47, 72’s a necessity in a pressure cooker of a moment
Where others might have folded, he came through with a personal best and doubled back on that two weeks later
That ability to rise to the occasion will serve him well this year, where ol’ Sebas will be a contender for a few Oakland County crowns
Grade
Name
Time
Rating
Meet
Course
Date
10
Sebastian Ramirez
17:03.4
189.9
Lamplighter
Ford Field
20-Aug
10
Sebastian Ramirez
17:28.1
186.6
Mustang
Cass Benton
31-Aug
10
Sebastian Ramirez
17:07.8
188.7
OAA White 1
Bloomer Park
14-Sep
10
Sebastian Ramirez
16:35.8
194.7
Holly
Springfield Oaks
18-Sep
10
Sebastian Ramirez
16:45.3
187.6
Jackson
Sharp Park
25-Sep
10
Sebastian Ramirez
17:02.1
177.0
OAA White 2
Quickstad Park
28-Sep
10
Sebastian Ramirez
17:02.1
192.0
Oakland County
Possum Hollow
9-Oct
10
Sebastian Ramirez
17:09.8
178.4
OAA White 3
Hess Hathaway
22-Oct
10
Sebastian Ramirez
17:40.6
174.5
8 Chandler Park
Chandler Park GC
29-Oct
10
Sebastian Ramirez
16:56.9
179.0
D1 State
MIS
6-Nov
Grade
Name
Rating
Meet
Course
Date
9
Sebastian Ramirez
151.7
Royal Oak/Stoney Creek
Quickstad Park
9-Sep
9
Sebastian Ramirez
151.7
Rochester/Royal Oak
Bloomer Park
15-Sep
9
Sebastian Ramirez
159.7
Brother Rice/Royal Oak
Hess Hathaway
19-Sep
9
Sebastian Ramirez
152.3
BH/RO
Quickstad Park
25-Sep
9
Sebastian Ramirez
160.3
Athens/Royal Oak
Quickstad Park
30-Sep
9
Sebastian Ramirez
168.6
Hansons
Freedom Hill
3-Oct
9
Sebastian Ramirez
160.8
Farmington/Royal Oak
Quickstad Park
6-Oct
9
Sebastian Ramirez
171.9
Oakland County
Kensington
9-Oct
9
Sebastian Ramirez
165.5
PR 16
Metro Beach
21-Oct
9
Sebastian Ramirez
168.7
D1 Reg 8
Chandler Park
30-Oct
Lola (and Sophie) has been a consistent force on the cross country courses of the Greater Flint area for three years now
Throughout her career, you can name the race, she’s accomplished something there
SVL?
Top 3 each time, with a victory in 2020
Greater Flint?
Top 5 each time, with a victory in 2020
Regionals (Heritage or Mott)?
Top 10 each time, with victories in 2020 and 2021
Looking above, that 2020 season was astounding, but her State Meet and postseason showed progress even from then, improving in time at MIS (18:55 to 18:18), place at MIS (23rd to 13th), and personal best (18:03 to 18:01)
I know this spring didn’t go her way at all, but I’m confident come November, we’ll see her out in front yet again
Now we’re getting to the fun part! In previous years, what I’ve done is list the top teams, top individuals. Prior to last summer, I’d write and write and write, then never finish my writings before the season started. In 2021, I made the decision to just list the top teams and not add any creative input. I’m going to bridge that gap this year. The best of the best are covered in the 50 Tickets, the fastest runners on the best teams will be covered in their Top 10s. In these previews, I want to write just a tiny bit about everyone else. Maybe it’s only a sentence, but y’all deserve even the tiniest bit of recognition.
These projections include incoming freshmen. This is a necessary step in the previews, however there are some unknown areas. Many of the schools in this region have identifiable feeder schools, but I’ll always miss someone that didn’t run 8th grade XC or add someone that ran 8th grade XC and won’t run in HS. There’s really no other way to do it other than make it a guessing game or to ask every coach individually, which would take years. As always, if you’re reading here, have an upcoming region with an odd case, reach out!
Where:
Webberville’s Happy Acres. The Cross Country Field of Dreams. I fully expect Michigan legends to emerge from the cornstalks and have a race after these races. Honestly though, a cross country only facility on a farm. Pretty flat, a little gradual rise and descent here and there. Tends to run a little fast, but still a true test.
2021 Boys: Carson City-Crystal (17th), Whitmore Lake (8th), Dansville (15th)
2021 Girls: Whitmore Lake (9th), Fowler (20th), Lansing Christian (22nd)
Top 25 Boys Teams: Whitmore Lake (11th), Carson City-Crystal (12th), Novi Christian Academy (16th)
Top 25 Girls Teams: Whitmore Lake (Top 10), Clarkston Everest Collegiate (10th), Fowler (15th)
Listed below is anyone in the top-15 that’s not on one of the top-10 teams or a freshman. Just trying to spread a little more love, even if it’s just reciting times or accomplishments.
Caleb Howard, Webberville – Has qualified for MIS in each of his three seasons, finishing top-10 in this region and top-100 in the state in each of those opportunities. During track, explored a bit beyond the distance events and found a home in the jumps, where he was able to leap 5’8”.
Braylan Majesky, Whitmore Lake – Improvement from his sophomore to junior year was able to help Whitmore Lake secure a MIAC title and a state meet berth. Braylan knocked nearly a minute off his previous year’s best with his 17:31 here.
Logan Cooper, Potterville – Logan must have been inspired or pulled along by Carson Brunk, because wow, what a track season. A 4:50 1600m could easily lead to many efforts in the 17’s and below.
Brayden Clark, Carson City-Crystal – I bet Brayden thinks about the state meet every day. After all, he’s made three of them, his best finish a 45th place that helped the Eagles capture that 2020 state title.
Jobe Skaff, Novi Christian Academy – From his freshman to sophomore seasons, knocked more than 4 (!!!) minutes off his personal best.
Reily Henderson, Whitmore Lake – Multiple solid efforts in big meets, 18:10s at MIAC, Stockbridge, Regionals, led way to a sub-18 at State.
Josh Passow, Plymouth Christian Academy – Qualified for State wayyy back in 2019. Can he make his return voyage? If he returns to that low-18 form he displayed in both 2019 and 2021, he has a good shot.
Liam Wilder, Webberville – Liam’s performance here last year was out of this world, a 17:58 in a sea of 18:00+ efforts in 2021.
Deegan Bodell, Carson City-Crystal – Deegan has put in two consecutive solid track seasons, reaching down into the low-11’s in the 3200m. If he’s able to convert that to cross, Carson City might find themselves back in the top-10.
Jacob Skidmore, Novi Christian Academy – Jacob’s initial race in this sport was 32:28. His second 42:09. Now he’s running in the 18’s and finishing 2nd in the MIAC in the 3200m.
Trevor Feldpausch, Fowler – Placed top-8 in the CMAC in both the 1600m and 3200m.
Vincenzo Lewan, Plymouth Christian Academy – Vincenzo has finished 25th and 27th at Regionals his first two years, but now Plymouth Christian moves west. Region 36 was loaded on the boys side, will the difference be enough for him to get a qualifier?
Ashlyn Kephart, Lansing Christian – This girl just knows how to achieve great things. Three-time All-Stater and part of the Team State Champion squad in 2020. She’s been 2nd here twice and will contend for her first regional crown.
Kelcie Pung, Fowler – Freshman year included some notable accomplishments. 19th at Class D, being apart of a state qualifying team, and finishing 16th in the D4 1600m.
Mya Guillermo, Novi Christian Academy – Freshman track campaign foretold her sophomore cross accomplishments. Multiple sub-21’s including a 47th place finish at MIS.
Josie Dubuc, Novi Christian Academy – Fall of ’21 was one of gradual reductions in time. First sub-23 effort in early September, first sub-22 at Larry Steeb. Championship season produced tremendous drops, where she ended her season at 21:00.
Cozette Brown, Portland St. Patrick – Like clockwork, each year Cozette starts her season above 23:00, each year she gets in the low-21’s and qualifies.
Ellayna Meredith, Portland St. Patrick – Two consecutive fifth place finishes here.
Landry Gomez, St. Charles – Landry began to find her form in late May, racking up two consecutive sub-6:10 efforts in the 1600m, the latter of which good for 4th in the MSAC.
