#74 - Records Crashing Everywhere!

February 18, 2025

Inside This Issue

Fisher Crushes Another One!

Fisher sees stars, becomes a bigger one. Instagram/mmphoto060

He did it again. Grant Fisher nailed the 5000m World Record this time, and he did it convincingly, slicing 5.51 seconds off the the global mark that Ethiopia’s Keninisa Bekele set 21 years ago. It was also faster than his own U.S. outdoor record of 12:46.96.

Running at the David Hemery Valentine’s Invitational on the famously fast Boston University track, Fisher followed pacers for the first half before setting out on his own. “That was a tough one,” he said. While his unbelievably smooth stride may have made the effort look comfortable, in truth, he says, he was on the very edge. “I was seeing stars.”

Putting it into high school terms, here were his 1600 splits: 4:05.01, 4:05.03 (8:10.04) and 4:04.78 (12:14.82)… with a 29.28 sprint tacked on.

Some felt it was maddening seeing him have to go around lapped runners in the final laps, some of them running two abreast. Apparently this surprised Fisher too; one would have thought the race director would have given very clear instructions on this.

Still, the Grand Blanc/Stanford alum was gracious, as usual: “It was actually nice to have someone to chase for a little bit. It timed out pretty well, where I wasn’t passing on the curves too often. Even when I was passing on the straight, I’d get up and around as quickly as possible. Every step you’re running in lane 2, you’re running a little further.

“Those guys were running their races as hard as they can. You know, I wasn’t aware of anything going on behind me, so I’m not too upset at them for not knowing what was going on behind them either… If I would have missed the record by a tenth or something, I’d probably be a little pissed right now, but it all worked out.”

For Fisher, it was a three-weekend, three-race season: 3:33.99 PR, 7:22.91 WR, 12:44.09 WR. Hard to complain about that. What’s next? Rest and training. He’s aiming at Grand Slam Track this season, but most importantly, another shot at medals at the World Championships, set for Tokyo in September.

Ross Gets Into The Record Books

Ross getting interviewed at the Armory.

The pros weren’t the only ones nailing records. Onsted senior Emmry Ross took down the state 800 record in a big way, winning the star-studded High Voltage race at The Circuit meet in NYC’s Armory in a blazing 2:03.95. That blasted the state standard of 2:06.30 that Pioneer’s Rachel Forsyth set in 2022 at Chicago’s Meet of Champions (also on a 200 banked track). It also is just 0.08 away from the outdoor record of 2:03.87 that Forsyth set last June at the Champion of Champions meet.

Following a rabbit for the first half, Ross hit laps of 30.13 and 30.79 (60.92). As the pacesetter dropped, she took command of the race and led, with Pennsylvania’s Olivia Cieslak challenging hard. She passed 600 in 1:32.38 (just missing our state record of 1:32.0), a 31.47 lap. On the final circuit, she fought off more challenges from Cieslak before outsprinting her on the final stretch for a 2:03.95-2:04.58 win. Her last lap took 31.56.

“It was really, really fun,” said Ross. “It was such a competitive race too.” All 9 finishers broke 2:10, the race producing the top 7 times in the United States this season.

It also makes Ross the No. 8 U.S. high schooler ever indoors. While she is still short of Roisin Willis’s national record of 2:00.06, she can take some joy that No. 9 on the all-time list, just 0.03 seconds slower, is none other than Athing Mu, who would win Olympic gold two years after her high school senior year.

HS Names In The News

  • Katie Blue of Grand Ledge flew over 13-4 at the Valentine Vault at the Vault Barn to become the No. 4 indoor vaulter in state history. Both Isabel German and Aubree Bowers cleared 12-6. Defending D1 champion Reece Emeott from East Kentwood jumped 15-0. Three preps cleared 14-feet: Odin Gulledge, Brady Lewis and Asher Paul.

  • Quincy Isaac of Canton showed up at the LAB and took just one long jump. 24-5.25—missing the state record by a mere three-quarters of an inch. Then he called it a day, passing his three remaining attempts.

  • Oak Park’s 400 guys ran well at the LAB, Rondre Austion winning the 400 in 48.41 and Demari Caldwell 2nd in 48.56.

  • Asia Elder won the dash in 7.71.

  • A great LAB hurdle race saw Zacchaeus Brock edge Schmar Gamble, 7.82-7.86 as both PRed.

  • Brendan Vainner won the LAB shot with a 59-3.

  • Steven Wilkerson missed the state lead in the discus by a mere inch with his 161-9 at the LAB. Jada Ewell won the girls discus at 131-0.

  • Some fine races at SVSU’s Distance Fest on Saturday. Layla Jordan took the 800 in 2:13.49 over Victoria Garces at 2:16.06 as 11 girls broke 2:20. Romeo runners swept the top three spots in the mile: Natalia Guaresimo (5:02.20), Violet (5:03.14) and Annie (5:03.59) Hrabovsky. Annie also won the 3200 in the year’s fastest time, her 10:30.12 topping Gaylord’s Katie Berkshire (10:32.11). Otsego’s Emma Hoffman took the 5000 in 16:42.14.

  • On the boys side, Henry Dixon impressed with his 1:54.00 in the 800 ahead of Logan Mullan’s 1:55.86. Alma’s Thomas Larson won the mile in 4:20.95. Mitchell Hiatt led the 3200 in 9:25.33 and Luke Long of West Michigan Homeschool won the 5000 in 15:12.31.

  • The boys 4×8 went to 6 Mile (Northville) in a speedy 7:57.41 while Runners High (Romeo) took the girls race in 9:34.23, just ahead of Spirit of Pre’s 9:35.27. In the DMR, a mixed Breen team ran 10:32.42 while the Bolt TC (Midland Dow) put down a national class performance with its 12:03.63 to win the girls race.

College & Pro Names In The News

  • Kellen Kimes (ex-Hart), now at Liberty, became the 10th Michigander to join the 70-foot club in the weight with his 70-5.75 weight throw toss in Lynchburg.

  • Shamar Heard (ex-Chippewa Valley) is running for Tennessee. In his college debut, he ran a 46.86 relay leg, anchoring Tennessee’s B Team to 3rd in 3:08.98.

  • Aasia Laurencin, in her final season of competing for Michigan (she’s pro outdoors) ran a season-best 8.04 in the hurdles at Clemson.

  • The Michigan distance runners went to the fast BU track. In the 800, Miles Brown ran 1:48.00 and freshman Brendan Herger hit 1:48.24 (No. 8 alumni ever). Trent McFarland ran a PR 3:58.49 in the mile, and Aiden Sullivan 4:04.28.

  • Syracuse’s Benne Anderson (ex-Ottawa Hills) ran a 3:54.12 mile at BU, placing 2nd in his heat. He is now No. 3 Michigander ever in the indoor mile.

  • Georgia’s Kaila Jackson (ex-Renaissance) placed 2nd in the 60 at Clemson in 7.18 (No. 6 in the NCAA).

  • Morgan Beadlescomb (ex-Algonac/MSU) placed 3rd in the BU 3000 with a PR 7:38.55—he tightens his hold on the No. 3 alumni ever spot.

  • Olympic 400H silver medalist Anna Cockrell ran 52.88 for 400 at the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville. That makes her the No. 7 alumni ever.

  • Evan Bishop (ex-EGR) ran 7:50.73 in Fayetteville, making him the No. 5 alumni ever.

  • Natalie Cizmas (ex-Chippewa Valley/EMU) ran a PR 4:38.45 for the mile at BU. In a different heat, UM’s Sam Hastie (ex-AA Huron) ran 4:40.97. Syracuse frosh Selma Anderson (Ottawa Hills) ran 4:43.90.

  • A fine 3000 race at BU for MSU’s Rachel Forsyth & Notre Dame’s Sophie Novak (ex-Lake Orion). Forsyth clocked a PR 8:53.50 (also a Canadian U20 record) while Forsyth hit 8:56.47. They move to Nos. 2 & 3 on the alumni list.

The Changes Coming To The College Scene

The landscape of competing in college track/XC will be changing drastically with the changes that are happening as a result of the landmark House vs. NCAA settlement, which will probably get final approval soon.

While on the surface, one might think that a hugely increased number of D1 scholarships for track would be something to celebrate, the fact is that tight roster limits will have a devastating effect. For the most part, major D1 programs will no longer be the place for developing talent to go. Those coaches need to give their limited roster spots to athletes who can score in the conference sooner rather than later.

Good news for the D2, D3 and NAIA schools, since they may be getting a lot of the talent that can’t find a place in D1 anymore? Perhaps, but I suspect the answer will be a bit more complicated.

I spent weeks interviewing some of the nation’s top D1 coaches to see how it would affect the sport at that level. Please check out the article at trackandfieldnews.com.

A Thought On The Big Stars

“I knew he was going to be great,” is a common reaction from many of my Michigan friends when they’re talking about the recent breakthroughs of Grant Fisher or Hobbs Kessler. Allow me this perspective, as someone who watches high school track in this state very closely: every year I see athletes out there who I am absolutely positive are going to turn out to be great later in their athletic careers. I don’t know how many times I’ve said, “That kid’s going to be an Olympian!” I know that I’m not alone in this.

Usually, we are dead wrong. The majority of these high school stars don’t even make it through four years of college competition. This sport is hard! So rather than patting ourselves on the back for the one prediction we got right amidst so many others we got wrong, maybe we should sit back and experience the joy and appreciation for just how hard it is to make it to the top in this worldwide sport. Our stars are truly awe-inspiring, and we need to do everything we can for the younger generation to focus on them as heroes and role models.

The Michtrack Interview: Onsted’s Emmry Ross

Ross will be based in Ann Arbor next season. (Michigan Athletics)

Anyone who has ever driven through Onsted can attest that the Lenawee County town is small. Population, as of 2023, stood at 997. Yet suddenly the tiny hamlet is home to the fastest high school 800 runner in America.

Maybe not so suddenly. The Emmry Ross story is one that has been building momentum for a few years now. A sprinter/XC runner in middle school, she ran 28.35 back then for 200. Fast, but there were plenty faster in the state of Michigan. As a frosh, she got to try the 400, running 57.84 and ending up the D3 champ, leading off the winning 4×4 as well.

As a soph, she finally got to run the 800, which became very promising. At the D3 Finals, she won the double in 56.48 and 2:11.25. In her junior year she won an unprecedented D3 quadruple: the 1600 (4:57.81), 400 (56.25), 800 (2:10.74) and 3200 (10:55.27). In the post-season she turned on the jets, with PRs of 54.97 and 2:05.87 (No 4 in state history).

Now the Michigan signee is making the most of her senior year, one that has seen her demolish the state 800 record by 2.35 seconds and become the No. 8 high schooler in U.S. history. Coached by Rhonda Hubbard and John Springer, she says her “family is also very helpful with my training.” Now she is aiming at the state indoor finals and New Balance Nationals:

Michtrack: That Armory race must have been exciting for you.

Ross: Yes, it was. It was really, really fun. It was such a competitive race, too. Those are the races that are the most fun. Even though you get the most nervous for them once the gun goes off, it's just such a great feeling.

Michtrack: Have you run many races where you're in a crowd like that on the track at first?

Ross: Oh, honestly, not really because I come from such a small school. It's hard to find races where there's a lot of competition like that. I think the last race that was that competitive for track was probably Outdoor Nationals last year [She placed 7th ]. The Michigan showcase was also pretty competitive. I don't have a whole lot of experience with it, but that's why you do these races to get more experience, to get more comfortable with it, because next year I'm going to be running in races like that. So, I think it's good to do them now. Plus, they're just more fun. You know, you push yourself, you run with people like that, and you're going to have a better time.

Michtrack: Was that your first time with a pacer in front?

Ross: Yes, I think so. It was really cool.

Michtrack: You looked really comfortable just kind of sliding in behind her and going.

Ross: That was really fun. And, yeah, I think I honestly kind of forgot about it when I was running. I was just zone-in, and that's honestly what I did.

Michtrack: Now, I understand you decided to run in New York on short notice.

Ross: I got reached out about [the Circuit meet in] Boston [Feb. 21], and I was originally going to go to there. And then we started talking about the Circuit this weekend, and she was like, “Well, we can help you get out here.” So we decided basically Monday evening that we were going to go. it was very last minute, and we flew out Friday, middle of the day, and then ran Saturday.

Michtrack: And what a loaded field you ran against.

Ross: It was really cool. And all the athletes are such great athletes, and they were really kind. I mean, that was the first time I've met all of them, so they were all super nice. And, you know, I can tell some of them are more used to going to meets like this. They were very welcoming and just super kind to everybody.

Michtrack: Did your time surprise you?

Ross: Honestly, yes. I had a feeling with how competitive the race was we were all going to run good times, but I had no idea I was going to be able to run that fast. Honestly, I try not to think about it a whole lot. I go in, I'm like, “Well, I'm just going to do the best I can and try to take some of the pressure off of myself.” I tell myself as long as I run the best I can, that's the best it's going to be, and I should be happy with that. So I went into it not thinking about time really, just kind of thinking about pushing and trying to be better than what I did at Michigan [where she won in 2:06.62].

The pacer said she was going to go out in like a 59 or 59.5, and she went out a little bit slower, which it was completely fine. You've got to adjust to things like that. I was a little surprised when we came through with [60.92]. I just tried to finish the last section of the race really fast, and it worked out. And I think it helped that Olivia [Cieslak] was right on me, and so was everybody else.

Michtrack: She was really pressing you that last bit. Did that make you nervous, or did that just simply make you faster?

Ross: Not so much nervous. I just think the pressure of it helped a lot, and it helped both of us. It got her a really good time as well, and it pushed me to have a really good time too. It was very helpful.

Michtrack: And now you’re one of the fastest in history.

Ross: I just saw that. That gets me really excited because I think in the next four years I definitely am looking at the Olympic Trials. I've been striving for that, and that's one of the reasons why I think Michigan is going to be such a great school for me because they also see that as well for me. And I think that's the best school that's going to help and get me primed to be able to hopefully do that.

Michtrack: I'm kind of curious about your training. You started out as basically a sprinter and have kept moving up. How do you get that distance strength and keep that 400 speed?

Ross: I don't really hone into just one thing. I do a lot of different stuff just to keep me sharp in all of my different areas because I run a 400 and also I can run a 5K, even though the 5K is not my favorite race. I'm definitely a mid-distance kind of person. That's my favorite kind of race. So I think honestly my training is all across the board. I do a little bit of everything.

Michtrack: In high school, how did they get you talked into running farther and farther?

Ross: Actually, I had to talk them into doing it. In middle school I didn't really take it serious. I was just kind of like, “Oh, I'll just do like the 200 or whatever. Relays are kind of fun.” And then once I got into high school, I was like, I'm going to hold on to this. This is what I'm going to really work on… I need to do events that fit me better. And with doing cross country, why am I doing shorter distances?

But I had to kind of convince my coaches to allow me to go into those mid-distance races. I didn't start running the 800 until sophomore year and then the 1600 / mile until last year. Same with the 3200.

Michtrack: Do you want to repeat your four event wins at the state finals?

Ross: I think that'd be awesome. I think that would be such a good goal for me to have. Our team is pretty small this year, so I think doing individual events is going to be the way to go. I'm going to probably strive to do that or something similar to that.

Michtrack: What else are you looking at in the outdoor season?

Ross: I just want to finish the season the best I can finish it. It's my last season. I want to finish strong and healthy and on top and just go out being the best I can be.

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