Ranking Michigan college cross country teams

Ranking the Men's programs. I tried to consider what they have done the last 10 years but gave more emphasis to the last year or two.

I'll welcome the criticism.

1. Michigan - Probably the best team in the state right now. Over the last 10 years probably consistently the best program in the state.

2. Michigan State - Has definitely gotten more relevant the last 5-6 years.

3. Eastern Michigan - Always a good team.

4. Grand Valley - 10 years go you could argue they were the best team in the state. They haven't really fallen off, but the D1s have gotten back to where they should be.

5. Saginaw Valley - Can't believe I'm ranking them this high. Much better team than I remember.

6. Calvin College - Historically a great team. As of recent not quite as strong.

7. Oakland - Decent team. Nothing special for D1.

8. Central Michigan - Seems to get decent recruits. Should be higher but hasn't put it together in a long time.

9. Hillsdale - 14th at DII last year. Also better than I remember.

10. Aquinas - Like Calvin, historically pretty strong. Not good in 2016 though (4th in WHAC).

11. Conernstone - 6th at NAIA last year. Usually competitive in WHAC (3rd last year).

12. Siena Heights - Competitive WHAC team (2nd last year). Up and down depending on the year.

13. Albion - Second best team in MIAA. Young team last year. Would expect to be competitive in coming years. Historically have had solid guys but never a full great team.

13. Michigan Tech - 6th in GLIAC in 2016.

14. Hope - 3rd in MIAA. Lost some seniors after 2016. Historically never remember them being anything more than run of the mill.

15. Madonna - 5th in WHAC last year. This could be an upcoming program.

16. Ferris State - Very average GLIAC team.

As a follow up, I wish they still held Michigan Intercollegiates and everyone actually raced their real teams. It would be a great meet.

Probably the correct answer

It feels like another lifetime now; LCC won Nationals for both men and women in 1991 and repeated both titles in '92. It was accomplished with all kids from Michigan, with most from Greater Lansing or the surrounding rural communities.

NJCAA had added divisions that year, so we didn't have to beat the teams with international runners, like South Plains. But we were still damn good for our "level." We ran some meets with quite a few four-year schools and twice put seven runners in the top 12 overall.

The women recently added a title in the top division (I believe the second division was phased out).

Aside: A lot of the mid to lower performing women's teams in Michigan would get slaughtered by the top high school teams in the state.

LCC is definitely a good team, especially on the women's side (2 National Championship in a row). The men's program probably fits in around #15 on my list. I think the men's team last won nationals around 2008 or so. I've always been impressed by what Chuck Block and now Jim Robinson have gotten out of their runners.

Yes I understand overall Michigan has been the better program ,but that is why I said as of lately and talked about there results as of lately. Never did I say Michigan state has overall been the better program. Was not aware these rankings were about the programs overall and not based off of right now.

I think I shut my brain off after Pre-Nats last year. I forgot how poorly UM ran at the end of the season in 2016. Both UM and MSU lost about the same amount of guys.

ExcuseMeee wrote:

Yes I understand overall Michigan has been the better program ,but that is why I said as of lately and talked about there results as of lately. Never did I say Michigan state has overall been the better program. Was not aware these rankings were about the programs overall and not based off of right now.

Hmm. A difference in perspective, then. My thought is, if you look at any other year besides last year, you would be hard pressed to say Michigan wasn't better. Last year was bad for them. But if I was a kid today choosing between those two programs, all else being equal, I think I would still choose Michigan.

Northern Michigan men's team all day baby!

Uh....... you forgot to list Eastern Michigan...their Women were 9th in the NCAA in 2016 and have all but one athlete back who was not one of the top four....

Fast runner wrote:

Northern Michigan men's team all day baby!

I laughed

9/10

Fixed #3 for you

Willy the goat

GOAT haha wrote:

Willy the goat

I can second this, Willy Fink is without a doubt the true GOAT. Sorry tho ladies he just got engaged!!!

Spring Arbor?

They always have that one fast African lol

Bump

Any schools bring in some power recruits (aside from the one already mentioned)?

I actually did some research wrote:

Any schools bring in some power recruits (aside from the one already mentioned)?

On the women's side, Hillsdale is adding Depies from Reeths-Puffer (4:57/10:30/17:57). Big recruit for a smaller school.