Best Runners From NORTHERN Michigan?

Eric went on to run @ C.M.U. for 1 year. He was a great guy and a great team mate. I can't remember that he ever raced in a uniform but he did run mid 25's @ M.S.U. in an open meet. I haven't seen him since the late about 1990.

On the subject of Gaylord runners, whatever became of Jordan Emmory? He was almost as good a Flynn and they were both class of '00 I believe. I never heard of him after high school.

Donald Letts

But who is the is the all-time best high school runner from N. Mich? My vote, Ryan Shay. Many accolades here: 4 time XC state champ, runner-up state champ 1600/3200, 3 time state champ 1600, 3 time state champ 3200, state champ 800m (one year won 800, 1600, and 3200), multi-time national champ AAU and USATF Junior Olympics (track and xc), state record holder 3200, and multiple xc course/track stadium records in N. Mich. The one big thing missing from his resume is Footlocker Finalist.

Man, I can't believe all the posters here with Northern Mich. knowledge. I'm impressed (now across the bridge myself). Especially for remembering Litzner. That's cool.

Shay's younger brother's pretty good, too. Annie Otwell, TC grad ... see how she does. Both Andersons from Marquette were pretty good.

Ryan, I totally agree

Thanks for clearing that up Ryan.

tell your friend Nick Adams I said hello. You guys should get out of that cabin sometime.

This is awesome.

Since we're talking about state champs and whatnot...Joe O'Conner from Ogemaw was pretty studly for his two years (he didn't start running until track his sophmore year).

Won XC twice in Class B. Won the 800, 1600 his senior year at states (junior year he got in a bad accident and couldn't run). Ran 4:16 and 1:56 on the track. I think he went faster than that in the 4x800 relay once, but i can't recall what exactly. Also ran a 50 flat 400.

I love the names of northern Michigan towns.

ohhs wrote:

Since we're talking about state champs and whatnot...Joe O'Conner from Ogemaw was pretty studly for his two years (he didn't start running until track his sophmore year).

Won XC twice in Class B. Won the 800, 1600 his senior year at states (junior year he got in a bad accident and couldn't run). Ran 4:16 and 1:56 on the track. I think he went faster than that in the 4x800 relay once, but i can't recall what exactly. Also ran a 50 flat 400.

Unfortunately Ogemaw Heights is the name of the school.

West Branch is the name of the town.

Don't forget about towns like Bad Axe and Pigeon.

I'm partial to Kalkaska.

Claire Otwell from TC is currently number 4-6 cross girl at U of M. Younger sister Annie had perhaps the greatest range of almost any Michigan HS girl: 400-57, 800-2:11, Mile-4:53, 3200-10:49

Ryan Shay was D4. Though he ran great times, being a multiple state champ isn't that impressive. Hughes, TC Central, 1:53 and 4:10 much better than Shay, 4:17 and 9:25. He made himself the real deal while in college.

Joe Agostinelli is in law school down at Michigan State I believe. He got really fat and was working for a Republican State senator but lost most the weight he gained and runs a 18 minute 5k and plays Ultimate Frisbee really well.

I ran against Jordan E. in high school and talked to him after his sophomore year of college(he went to Columbia) and he said that he had cracked his kneecap in half while street luging. After that I'd see his name in results on occasion, but he never made much of an impact out there. Too bad though, he was a very fine runner and a nice fellow to chat with at the meets.

Forgot about the late Kris Eggle from Cadillac.

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

Drikin N Stinkin

Does any one remember Jodie Shay? I think she was a Footlocker(Kinney)finalist.

I've got a good one for you: Robin Martin! He is the UP record holder at 800m in 1:55 and then ran for Penn and went something like 1:47

How did Hughes make himself the "real deal" in college? I thought he dropped out. I don't care what division you are talking about, 4 xc champs in a row is damn good. Didn't Shay have the fastest time of the day at MIS his Senior year, the first year they held all divisions on the same course, on the same day, and he won the Michigan Senior's race to qualify for the Mideast Meet of Champions. It seems that many underestimated Shay because he was from a small school and his times only reflect the competition in the area at that time. All I know is that when he raced against the T.C. boys, he always had their numbers. Don't get me wrong, Hughes ran some fast H.S. times, but his H.S. accolades are nothing compared to Shay.

First of, the previous poster meant Shay made himself the real deal in college. Obiously he did not mean that Hughes did-he is one of the all-time busts in college. Secondly, Shay did accomplish alot but always ran stupidly when he wasn't running against the small school runners that he knew he could beat. Witness his Sub-:30 first 200m before a restart at the Mideast meet, then going out way too hard after the restart only to fade to the middle of the pack, and nearly the same scenerio at Kenosha that year. I believe he was back around 100th place there. Now he still goes out too hard(1:06, 1:09 this weekend) and adds ridiculous, bold predictions("i'm the man to beat...", or my personal favorite, "I will run 2:10" before like 5 2:14-2:17 marathons in row) before every race just to make us wonder how this kid got through Notre Dame all over again.

He is a good runner but never seems to be able to shut his mouth long enough to think.