If we are talking about schools in northern michigan Traverse City Central has been on fire (produced a sub 9 guy). Past the Bridge Marquette has dominated and has produced some really good runners over the years. Hunter jones has to top this list.
If we are talking TC, lets throw is Julia Flynn-mile record, now at Stanford. Can't use Hobbs or Grant.
I think my post was geared towards guys/gals that have now made to the collegiate level. It's amazing to think that Jake Flynn's records at Benzie would be broken, mainly because Benzie is a small, somewhat remote school and usually those types of accomplishments are never replicated.
But a 4-time state winner in XC is pretty crazy and it looks like the kid is headed to Wake Forest. I wonder if MSU/UM came close in his recruitment.
I'm sure it's debatable if he or Ryan Shay would be considered as the best, as Shay won 4 XC titles as well, including 3 in track and even had one state title in the 800m which shows you just how much range he had.
Yes. End of debate. I don't think it's that close, to be honest.
That kid had quite a progression. Now if we go below the mason dixon line of Midland he is another tier below Hobbs and Fisher to me.
He definitely progressed, no doubt about it. He did set the state records for middle school with like 4:32 and 9:34 or something though. So it's not like he started his career as a slouch.
I think my post was geared towards guys/gals that have now made to the collegiate level. It's amazing to think that Jake Flynn's records at Benzie would be broken, mainly because Benzie is a small, somewhat remote school and usually those types of accomplishments are never replicated.
But a 4-time state winner in XC is pretty crazy and it looks like the kid is headed to Wake Forest. I wonder if MSU/UM came close in his recruitment.
I'm sure it's debatable if he or Ryan Shay would be considered as the best, as Shay won 4 XC titles as well, including 3 in track and even had one state title in the 800m which shows you just how much range he had.
Shay and Jones were equally dominant in Michigan, but the difference lies in how they fared nationally. And track times aren't even close. Shay ran maybe 4:18 (?) and 9:15 (?). Jones ran those times as a soph.
I think my post was geared towards guys/gals that have now made to the collegiate level. It's amazing to think that Jake Flynn's records at Benzie would be broken, mainly because Benzie is a small, somewhat remote school and usually those types of accomplishments are never replicated.
But a 4-time state winner in XC is pretty crazy and it looks like the kid is headed to Wake Forest. I wonder if MSU/UM came close in his recruitment.
I'm sure it's debatable if he or Ryan Shay would be considered as the best, as Shay won 4 XC titles as well, including 3 in track and even had one state title in the 800m which shows you just how much range he had.
Shay and Jones were equally dominant in Michigan, but the difference lies in how they fared nationally. And track times aren't even close. Shay ran maybe 4:18 (?) and 9:15 (?). Jones ran those times as a soph.
Not downplaying Jones, but let's see if he becomes a 9-time All-American at Wake Forest and wins a national title. Seems like he might have to the tools to do it.
Shay and Jones were equally dominant in Michigan, but the difference lies in how they fared nationally. And track times aren't even close. Shay ran maybe 4:18 (?) and 9:15 (?). Jones ran those times as a soph.
Not downplaying Jones, but let's see if he becomes a 9-time All-American at Wake Forest and wins a national title. Seems like he might have to the tools to do it.
Agree... but this debate has been centered on HS running. If using post-HS, the discussion moves to Shay, M. Smith, Drenth, Taylor, and P. McMullen. These guys outperformed all others after HS. Mutliple NCAA titles, USA squads, Olympic teams, etc. Of course there's no guarantee Jones will do any of those things. Time will tell.
Some MSU love here....let's add Lance Rambo and Lindsey Rudden from Marquette. I believe Austin Wissler finally got under 1:50 while at MSU.
Thinking back to other MSU runners from the north, add Josh Hofbauer from Harbor Springs. State champ in the 3200m, and state champ in XC as well.
Tecumseh Adams from (Harbor Springs/CMU). Held a few school records at CMU.
Possibly add Ben Wynsma too (Suttons Bay/CMU). State Champ in the 800m and runner up in the 1600m. I thought Wynsma won a state title in XC, but I might be wrong.
This thread has me thinking back to that crazy good 2004 CMU team that had Jake Flynn, Jake Crowe, Tristan Perlberg, Dave Ernsberger, Matt Loiselle, etc that won the MAC title. Lots of UP North kids on that roster. I keep lumping that CMU group into people like Kevin Brokaw (Traverse City), Pete Remien (Ishpeming), and Josiah Middaugh (East Jordan) but than I remember that those guys were a bit older.
Oh I forgot. Jacques Henning was from Harbor Springs and was on that 2004 team as well. Henning was the Class C champion in the 1,600m (4:18.4) in 1999. So you had Ernsberger, Flynn, Henning, Andrew Manning all from the northern parts of Michigan on that team.