Best Runners From NORTHERN Michigan?

In high school Hughes was a superior runner. His track times were more impressive than Shay's and he was a decent cross guy (multiple sub 16:00's). Nobody is underestimating Shay, but you can't compare his "accolades" (running D4) against kids running in D1. 3 or 4 time state champ means nothing when, if he ran D1, he would have never made it out of regionals. You can hero worship all you want in hindsight- Ryan has made up for his lack of natural talent by working his a$$ off and being smart and focused on how to maximize his abilities- but he wasn't the guy he became until after high school. (by the way, small school runners have a strange complex, many don't realize that their 17:30 would barely make varsity at most larger schools. so when a D4 guy comes along and destoys his competition on average of a minute to a minute and a half that guy gains a God-like reputation despite the fact that he's only running 16:00 to 16:15.)

Hey zatogold,

Looks like the store isn't too busy today, eh? I knew you would have to get the ultimate promo in there.

See you this weekend.

How do Ryan's balls taste in your mouth?

He has been a decent runner at times. Nothing outstanding-- he is in that second tier of American running with about 100 others. Certainly one of the best runners from northern Michigan (if i remember correctly this was the original topic).

That was the original topic. But Troll asked "But who is the is the all-time best high school runner from N. Mich?" He gave his vote to Ryan Shay. I disagree. It was John Hughes. After high school they took two drasticlly different turns.

"How do Ryan's balls taste in your mouth?" I don't really have a clue, since I'm really not into that sort of thing. I'm glad you've alined yourself so close to Ryan that you can talk freely about where you want his balls to go.

Is everyone that works at the TC Running Fit a homo??

I'm thnin a couple of em are.

Srunker than a skunk

"Is everyone that works at the TC Running Fit a homo??

I'm thnin a couple of em are."

Ah yes, constructive criticism at its finest.

Smith Steeple Oly Alt in '84

McMuffin '96 Oly

Drenth,

Herb.

Nobody comes close to these guys.

Not you sugar tits. i was talking to the other guy who obviously has his mouth placed firmly around Mr. Shay's scrotum while doing some testicular toungue-juggling.

As for who was better in high school, I think it is obvious that 4:10 and 4:17 are two completely different levels of athlete. Shay was nowhere near the athlete that Hughes was in high school.

You guys are all wrong. Northern Michigan is NORTH of the bridge: the UP. The best runner is clearly Mandi Zemba from Grand Valley. Anything south of the bridge is just that--south!

Drunk & Unemployable since 72 wrote:

Forgot about the late Kris Eggle from Cadillac.

No mark Smith but he kicked some serious ass in school.

Drikin N Stinkin

Kris Eggle was certainly one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Outside magazine did a nice profile on him after he was shot and killed while working as a border guard along the Mexican border. Horrible tragedy.

However, as a runner he was decent. Certainly not outstanding. Jared Glover of Kingsley and Scott Miller of Charlevoix beat him by 100 meters + pretty much every time they lined up. Others, too. In fact, he wasn't even Cadillac's #1 runner at times. (Some long haired guy)

Regardless, he did kick my ass. (Notice that theme running through this thread!)

John Steinberg from Manistee (Manistee Catholic Central HS '78) hasn't been mentioned. May not be as good as Shay or a couple others, but worth mentioning. Might not be on most people's maps because MCC didn't have a XC program, so he would drive himself to any HS XC meet that would allow him to run individually and beat a lot of people. I can't find his track times, but I only remember him beating just about everybody he raced. All-American at Ferris, then later continued to develop as a long distance runner. Finished second to Steve Jones (Marathon WR holder at one time, I believe) in the Chicago 1/2 marathon (used to be "America's Marathon" or something like that a LONG time ago, and canceled it and ran the 1/2 instead one year). Later finished 3rd in Detroit, barely missing Olympic Trials qualifying.

Tied with Eggle (God rest his soul, God bles his family)for nicest guy ever in these discussions. John also lettered in basketball in HS, though he mostly collected splinters along side me on the bench. ;-)

Nice call on JSteinberg.

I agree with "Miler Left Out". Northern Michigan runners are from the U.P. I can't believe this thread exists. I guess if it only talked about yooper runners, it wouldn't last long.

That second tier you refer to is more like 25-30 runners. You can't lump someone like Shay with the 100th best distance runner which would be someone around 2:25 in the marathon and 31:00 for 10k.

Bob Duerksen from Mancelona ran 13:52ish for 5k, 8:39ish for indoor 2 mile, and 3:44 for 1500m while at CMU (there the same time as Jeff Drenth). Not sure what his times from high school were.

Chris Lett was a pretty damn good UP runner

McMullen was the best fullback/miler from Northern Michigan

Nice call on BDuerksen. Think in their senior year, some of the guys had their names spelled in reverse on the back of their singlets...htnerD as example. Bob chased Jeff in the NCAA indoor 2 mile.

Bill Taylor DID NOT even run track in high school in his junior or senior year. CC only.