MITS State Championship - What to Watch For

For those who cannot attend the meet, watch it here!

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LIVE RESULTS

Audrey Belf headlines the 3200m run where we should see a great battle and a record go down!

 

Boys

 

Girls

60 Meter Dash

Three of the top four seeds are signed up and ready to go. Jordan Love has had a fantastic season being in the top 2 of every 60 he has run this year. His 6.89 is good for US#18 and top of all MITS Qualifiers. Anthony Debardelaben and Sam Beal round-out the three early favorites, all having gone sub-7 at some point this season.

 

60 Meter Hurdles

Devin McKinney hit his top time (US#7) in the first meet of the year, but hasn't run a race all February. Without knowing why, it will be interesting to see if he comes out rusty or fresh. The next four in the race Ross Williams, Shane Moffo, Fred Boyd, and Robie Webster make this one of the deeper hurdle races we have seen at the MITS State Championship in some time.

 

Distance Medley Relay

Not the most loaded event up front but, looking at depth, it has potential to turn into a fantastic race. WIth the weather, I think many teams just punched a ticket and called it quits this season. Seeing all teams on one track could make it a tough All-State title to earn.

 

1600 Meter Run

Without taking anything away from the other races, this is the race of the day. Grant Fisher had a very shortened season after winning Foot Locker Nationals in December and looks to be the early favorite. Logan Wetzel will look to challenge after running out of track at GVSU a month ago. John Sattler, Lucas Arrivo, and Keenan Rebera will be hanging on and racing each other to some incredible times.

 

400 Meter Dash

Skyler Bowden made a statement at GVSU (US#36) a few weeks ago to earn him the #1 seed. If Maurice Allen was in the race, the top three from that day would be set to race-off again. Nolen Bright-Mitchell is strong and will be there in the end. Have a feeling he is in a DMR before this, so it will be interesting if that effects this race at all.

 

200 Meter Dash

An event that unfortunately was gutted this year with the one-event rule. Wan'ya Williams is the obvious favorite, with about half-a-second lead on the next entered athlete.

 

4x800 Meter Relay

The Spirit of Pre team is going all-out for the meet record of 7:59. The may not have much competition, but all four of the kids are capable of racing alone.

 

800 Meter Run

A little thin up front, but the depth is unbelievable in this race. Only two of the top five seeds (Brennan Munley & Drake Gauthier) but then 10 of the top 14 are in! Ty Thronson and Andrew O'Connor have run faster at non-qualifying meets, so expect to see them right in the mix of things.

 

4x200 Meter Relay

Looks like with no Motor City at the meet, the Michigan All-Stars will be forced to race themselves. Seriously, they have two teams as the top two seeds. Grand Rapids Fire, Elite Performance, KP Athletics, and TEMPO will make it a strong race for the non-Michigan All-Stars.

 

3200 Meter Run

I don't know why Ben Hill is not yet entered, but without him in the field really opens up. Jesse Hersha will likely be in a position to lead most of the race. Schmidt, Hall, and Davey will all try to hang and make it a race the last 200. Another field with incredible depth. Whoever earns a spot on the podium definitely deserves it.

 

4x400 Meter Relay

No Motor City :( but Michigan All-Stars have a fantastic time of their own to hold onto. Elite Performance and Great Lakes are right on their heals to make this a fantastic and exciting way to end the day!

 

60 Meter Dash

Sekayi Bracey (US#35) is an absolute stud. I'm not even sure I can correctly put it into words or do it justice. Winning 100, 200, and getting third in the long jump as a freshman is pretty special. The depth of this event is disappointing. Tough to predict who makes it through the rounds for this one.

 

60 Meter Hurdles

If only Quenee' Dale had decided to compete, this would have been the best/deepest girls race of the day. Either way, Ally Goff, Morgan Robertson, Lauren Rodriguez, Aazhenii Nye, and Breanna Luba make it a star-studded race.

 

Distance Medley Relay

Spirit of Pre (US#8) is the #1 seed by about a minute. They will be racing the clock getting ready to possibly head to New Balance Nationals to see how the stack-up. That 12:04 record could be in trouble.

 

1600 Meter Run

I am curious to see where Ersula Farrow runs, or why she doesn't run. Karrigan SmithJordann McDermitt, and Valerie Wierenga are all in the 5:02's so they should battle nicely. If the race works out how it could, Hannah Meier's 4:55.32 record could be tested.

 

400 Meter Dash

This is the event that suffers most from Motor City not coming (Anna Jefferson & Carlita Taylor). However, Nicole Vacaguzman, Davonne Bolden, and London Renfroe are all right by eachother and the race for the top spot will be a great one.

 

200 Meter Dash

Savannah Roberson is the clear favorite to defend her crown from last season. The race for the back-half of the podium will be very close between about five girls. It will be fun to watch once all these girls are actually all head-to-head.

 

4x800 Meter Relay

Spirit of Pre would have to hit things perfectly, but could go for the record of 9:19.06. Motor City won't be there to push them, but NXC Running Club along with the Sisters of Pre will be to give them a run for their money.

 

800 Meter Run

Kennedy Beazley is the one seed, but is questionable to compete at the meet. Jackie Feist and Megan O'Neil will look to go for the title whether Kennedy is there or not.

 

4x200 Meter Relay

The deepest of the relays even without Motor City. New Breed should take it, but Elite Performance, Pop's Angel, Ann Arbor Youth, and Michigan Mustangs are all right there to challenge for the top spot.

 

3200 Meter Run

A fantastic race based on the entries so far. Lauren Brasure (US#7) will look to take Audrey Belf (US#5) down after a very close race in the Gazelle Sports Elite 3200 a few weeks ago. Amber Way, Rachel Coleman, and Kenzie Weiler all ran in the same race and will look to improve on their times. It's crazy to think, but the current record (10:26.98), held by Megan Goethals, SHOULD go down. Crazy thought with what a stud Goethals was for years.

 

4x400 Meter Relay

I swear I'm over Motor City not being there, but not having a 3:50 4x400 at the state meet hurts. Elite Performance, Michigan Accelerators, Great Lakes, and Spirit of Pre all think they have a chance for gold now, so expect to see all the stops pulled out to end a fantastic day of track in the mitten!