Nine Storylines: D1
This is the only regional preview you're getting from me this year, folks. I'll be doing this for each division, and every region gets a unique graphic. Stats generally will be from the past decade for consistency, unless there's a really good reason to look at a different span.
Region 1: Grand Haven's Powerful Top Two
The Grand Haven boys had an excellent state meet for track - sophomore Seth Norder finished 2nd in the 1600, and junior Nolan Clark was 4th in the 3200. Both were all-state last year, with Seth the top returner in D1. The Bucs aren't among the team title favorites this fall (that's for 2023), but with both Seth and Nolan on the squad, they have a realistic chance to tie 2015 Rockford's record for the best 1-2 of the past decade. (Taking the top two places at states, which hasn't been done by D1 boys since Pinckney's 2006 27-point masterclass, would require Nolan to beat reigning 3200m champ Benne Anderson.)
Region 2: Anna Delgado Paves a Lansing-Based Trail
Though it's one of Michigan's biggest population centers, the Lansing area's XC successes have mostly come in lower divisions (Lansing Catholic, Williamston, Mason, etc.). There are only 5 local schools currently in D1 now that DeWitt and Waverly have moved back down, and none are traditional powers, so it's a good year when a Lansing-area girl even makes all-state. With East Lansing's Anna Delgado, 6th place in the 3200 at track states, the capital region may have its best D1 runner since Grand Ledge's Allison Rademacher finished in that exact place at MIS in 2007.
Region 3: Annika Sandman and Her Red Arrows
After a series of close calls in recent years, the Lowell boys finally ended their 16-season MIS drought in 2021. The girls, with an even longer drought of 18 (now 19) seasons, fell 41 points short, but junior Annika Sandman brought home an individual regional title and an all-state finish. Annika's track season was just as good, as she ran 4:56 at states to place 10th from the slow heat. With Lowell bringing back its entire top 5 and moving to the likely weaker (albeit messy) Region 3, now is the time for the Red Arrows to make it back to states.
Region 4: Hartland's Rebuilding Year
After a few years of consistency, Region 4 has a new look. The Lansing teams are gone - replaced by Flint-area schools - and two-time state champ Riley Hough is starting his freshman year at MSU. But even without Riley (and #2 runner David Samson), the Eagles have a good chance of making their fourth consecutive trip to states. It's worth remembering that Hartland's 17th-place finish at MIS belies the team's true strength last year; just about everyone other than Riley had an awful race, and the Eagles were a top-ten team for most of the season. A top-ten team bringing back five of its top eight, including two in the mid-16s, should be well-set to qualify.
Region 5: Pioneer vs. Saline, Again
The rivalry that has defined the better part of the last decade of Ann Arbor-area XC finally returns to a convenient location. Barring a truly derailed season, the Pioneer and Saline should step to the line at Milan in October with two of the top girls' teams in the state. Pioneer has the front-runners (state champ Rachel Forsyth, 4:56 miler Emily Cooper, 800m all-stater Sylvia Sanok Dufallo) while Saline has the depth - the Hornets somehow return 7 sub-20:00 girls from 2021, including 4 who were freshmen last year. Saline hasn't had the better team since 2015, but they should be the favorites heading into the season.
Region 6: Is Northville Inevitable?
First off, no. 2016 Fremont was inevitable - until Corunna said no. 2018 Plymouth was inevitable - the Wildcats did win, sure, but a 5-point win over largely unheralded Walled Lake Central was shocking. These Mustangs certainly appear to be excellent, though, and a loss would be just as surprising (at least looking at it from August) as Fremont's. This past track season showed the potential for Northville to be a truly dominant team: Brendan Herger went from one of the state's best sophomores to one of America's best sophomores, Ethan Powell made states as just a freshman, and the entirety of Northville's winning 4x8 also qualified in the open 800. Meanwhile, David Whitaker (a JV guy last fall) was arguably the Mustangs' #2 runner in the spring with a sub-4:20 mile in Philly.
Region 7: Catholic Schools Take Center Stage
After a decade in the wilderness, the U-D Jesuit Cubs may finally be making their way back to MIS. Once a consistent state qualifier (2000-2007 consecutively), the Cubs haven't made it as a team since 2011. But buried in their sprint-dominated run to a state title in track, there's a glimmer of hope: a great state-qualifying 4x8 and a stable of talented underclassmen like 4:26 miler Logan Mullan, just a sophomore this fall. One of the teams in their way in this crowded regional? CHSL rivals Catholic Central, ranked 10th in D1 by Matt Armelagos. Anything can happen at Kensington, though, and UDJ taking down CC wouldn't be that shocking.
Region 8: A Brief History of Rochester Girls ft. Lucy Cook
For a short period in the late 2000s, Rochester High had one of the best groups of girls in state history. After winning a team title in 2007, Megan Goethals and Brook Handler combined to win the next three individual championships. Over a decade later, the Falcons finally have another runner who appears to be that good. After a wildly successful middle school career, Lucy Cook exceeded expectations with a 6th-place finish in XC and a runner-up in the 3200. Of course, there's certainly no pressure to go out and equal Megan's successes, but it'll be exciting to see what Lucy can do for the next three seasons.
Region 9: A Macomb County Resurgence?
It's been a rough decade for boys' XC in Macomb County. Outside of 2020 state champs Romeo, who have 7 qualifications and 5 top tens, no D1 team has qualified for states more than twice since 2012. The best performance by a non-Romeo team: just 20th place, from Dakota in 2016. But with the rapid program-building going on at Fraser and Anchor Bay* this year, it's possible we'll see three Macomb teams qualify from Region 9. Romeo certainly isn't guaranteed a spot, but their great depth in track season was a good sign. (Watch for Utica in Region 8, too, though they've got a similarly tight qualification battle.)
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