#72 - Millrose On Deck

Author

Jeff Hollobaugh
February 07, 2025

Inside This Issue

Millrose Preview

East Kentwood alum Gabriela Leon will be tangling with the Big Dogs. (Instagram)

So many things have changed in the sport over the years but one thing that hasn’t is the Millrose Games. For more than 100 years, the New York invitational has ruled as the best indoor meet in the United States. From its days at Madison Square Garden to the present at the Armory, the festival of speed has not just produced oodles of records, but it has generated incredible drama and excitement.

It’s an extra thrill for us when Michigan athletes get a chance to take part in the big show.

Motor City’s Janae Coleman will race the 600 (recall our recent post about the state record of 1:32.0 being ready to fall). Motor City’s fabled relay teams will run in both the boys and girls 4×4 invitationals. TJ Hansen will be in the boys mile; Jessica Jazwinski will be in the girls mile.

At the pro level, Gabriela Leon will be in the pole vault, Grace Stark in the 60 hurdles. Freddie Crittenden in the men’s 60H. The 3000 will feature Grant Fisher and the final event of the night, the Wanamaker Mile (a rumored World Record attempt) will feature Hobbs Kessler.

TV coverage will be on NBC/Peacock from 4-6 p.m. Eastern time on Saturday.

MITS State on a 200 Track

This year will be the first time the state indoor meet has been held on a 200 track since 2020. For our current athletes, it’s a first. Our coaches probably remember at least a few of the 48 editions that have been held on 200 tracks; only 5 have been held on 300 ovals.

We have heard a number of comments that athletes fear the times will be slow as a result of the tighter curves. While no one is going to argue against the point that 300 tracks and 200 banked tracks are faster than 200 flat tracks, I think a reminder of just how fast 200 flat tracks can be might be illuminating.

Here are the best performances ever in Michigan history on 200 flat tracks:

GIRLS

  • 200m - 24.14 - Kendall Baisden (Detroit Country Day)9
    Ypsilanti/MITS State - 2/27/2010

  • 400m - 55.25 - Dynasty McGee (Ypsilanti)12
    Ypsilanti/MITS State - 2/26/2011

  • 800m - 2:08.34 - Zofia Dudek (Ann Arbor Pioneer)12
    Ypsilanti/MITS - 2/ 2/2020

  • 1600m - 4:48.62 - Abby VanderKooi (Western Mich Christian)10
    Grand Rapids/MITS - 2/ 1/2020 

  • 3200 - 10:24.78 - Audrey DaDamio (Birmingham Seaholm)11
    Ypsilanti/MITS State - 2/22/2020

  • 4×2 - 1:40.15 - Detroit Renaissance
    Ypsilanti/MITS State - 2/23/2019

  • 4×4 - 3:50.26 - Oak Park
    Ypsilanti/Huron Relays I - 3/22/2014 

  • 4×8 - 9:03.74 - Grosse Pointe South
    Ypsilanti/Huron Relays - 3/24/2012

  • SMR - 4:01.99 - Oak Park
    Ypsilanti/MITS State - 2/22/2020

  • 11:35.98   Grosse Pointe South
    Ypsilanti/Huron Relays I - 3/23/2013

 BOYS 

  • 200m - 21.66 - Jaron Flournoy (Westland Glenn)12
    Ypsilanti/MITS - 1/15/2015

  • 400m - 48.48 - Skyler Bowden (Saline)12
    Ypsilanti/MITS Champs - 2/28/2015

  • 800m - 1:52.54 - Donavan Brazier (GR Kenowa Hills)12
    Ypsilanti/MITS Champs - 2/28/2015

  • 1600m - 4:04.46 - Grant Fisher (Grand Blanc)12
    Ypsilanti/MITS Champs - 2/28/2015

  • 3200m - 8:47.4 - Dathan Ritzenhein (Rockford)12
    Mt Pleasant/MITS - 1/29/2001

  • 4×2 - 1:29.51 - Ypsilanti
    Ypsilanti/MITS - 2/ 9/2011

  • 4×4 - 3:19.2+ - Detroit Central
    Ann Arbor/MITCA Ch (3:20.8y) - 3/18/1982

  • 4 × 8 - 7:51.5+ - Flint Northern
    Ypsilanti/Mid-American Conf (7:54.2y) - 3/ 8/1975

  • SMR - 3:31.66 - Oak Park
    Grand Rapids/MITS State - 2/25/2017

  • DMR - 10:13.6+ - Grosse Pointe North
    East Lansing/Spartan Relays (10:17.1y) - 4/ 2/1977

Names in the News

  • Zacchaeus Brocks zipped a PR 7.83 over the hurdles at the LAB after a 7.91 heat; he is now No. 8 in state history.

  • Speaking of hurdles, is the Ann Arbor Youth TC (ie. Belleville) shaping up as the national champion in the shuttle hurdles? Right now four Tigers are on our elite list: Will Jaiden Smith (7.74), Schmar Gamble (7.90), Timothy Pinard (8.09) and Colin Williams (8.45). Note the club also ripped a 1:28.72 for the 4×2 at the LAB.

  • Rodney Endsley of Walled Lake Western won the long sprint double at CMU in 22.31 / 50.83.

  • The LAB hosted a stunning girls 400 that brought together many of the state’s best: Nevaeh Burns won in 55.00, followed by Janae Coleman (55.60), Cayla Hawkins (55.64) and Emmry Ross (55.80). Ross came back and took the 1600 in 4:56.69!

  • Novi’s Chance McNeill popped a nice 6.89 sprint at the LAB.

  • Rochester’s Lucy Cook hit 2:15.10 in the 800, ahead of MSU recruit Allie Nowak (2:19.67).

  • Henry Dixon of Forest Hills Eastern won the 800 at Aquinas in 1:58.03.

  • Carrie VanNoy hit a state leader 8.62 in the hurdles. She is now No. 15 all-time.

  • The Lakeshore jumpers continue to impress. Now soph Kaden Griffiths is out to 22-2.5.

  • Hart’s Addy Hovey has tied the state leader in the high jump at 5-6.

  • Northville’s Justin Minard is stretching it out in the triple jump. Already the state leader at 43-9, he reached 43-8.25 last weekend.

  • Big breakthrough for Kalia Monroe of Eastpointe (& 16Ways) in the shot. She’s now at 43-8, a mark that puts her in the top 30 all-time.

  • Aquinas hosted a hot distance medley for the girls, with Shore TC (West Ottawa) defeating Spirit of Pre (Saline) 12:31.41-12:34.62.

  • Oak Park’s Demari Caldwell showed his range with a 1:57.51 for 800 at the LAB.

  • Jordynn Young of Heritage won the sprint double at CMU in 7.74 / 25.44.

  • Brennan Vainner (ex-Faber) of Parma Western reached 61-8 in the shot at Aquinas. He’s now No. 8 in history indoors.

  • Annie Hrabovsky won the 3200 at CMU in 10:44.68.

  • TJ Hansen acquitted himself well in Boston, placing 4th in the mile there in 4:03.87. He passed through 1500 in 3:47.27. The Freeland senior has tightened his hold on No. 3 all-time, after Hobbs Kessler and Grant Fisher.

  • Aubree Bowers hit 12-6 for the pole vault, only three inches away from the soph state record held by her big sister.

  • The 2000 steeplechase indoors may be a bit of an oddball event—we’re the only state that does it, and then only at CMU. But outdoors, the 2000 steeple is a legit national championship race and even contested at the New York state meet. So we think it’s cool that Michigan kids get to try it now and then. Layla Jordan of Goodrich crushed it last weekend, slashing 27 seconds from her own state record with a 7:07.13. The boys race was won by Shepherd’s Nolan Longuski in 6:33.13 (No. 5 ever).

  • Addy Stiverson won the shot at CMU with a massive 49-4. She was over 49-feet three times, and there was talk that one of those throws might have been a lot farther, but was possibly mismarked.

  • By the way, we’re still looking for the series for Liam Takace’s 74-5.75 weight throw at Hillsdale on January 26. Anyone got something?

The Alumni At Work

  • Hobbs Kessler was disappointed with his 3000 at the New Balance GP, but his 7:35.06 in 4th was a PR. He posted, “Frustrated not to have the legs toward the end of the race at NBGP, but not letting it rattle me.”

  • Grant Fisher got 2nd in the 1500 in an indoor PR 3:33.99. He is now the No. 2 Michigander ever behind Kessler, just as Kessler is now No. 2 in the 3000, behind Fisher.

  • Freddie Crittenden placed 2nd to Grant Holloway in the hurdles in 7.54.

  • Grace Stark came oh-so-close to winning the women’s hurdles with her 7.81.

  • Ottawa Hills alum Benne Anderson scored a big mile PR at the Terrier Classic, hitting 3:56.85. That makes him the No. 5 alum ever indoors, after Hobbs Kessler, Morgan Beadlescomb, Nick Foster and Paul McMullen.

  • Hillsdale’s Ben Haas (ex-Clarkston) has improved to 61-3 in the shot.

  • Lake Orion alum Sophie Novak won the mile at Notre Dame’s Meyo Invitational in 4:33.29. In 2nd was Pioneer alum Rachel Forsyth in a PR 4:34.02.

  • Emily Paupore (ex-Negaunee) won the Meyo 3000 in 9:07.80.

  • Zofia Dudek (ex-Pioneer) ran 15:33.35 at the Terrier Classic.

  • Kaylee Diamond (ex-Lowell) jumped 5-10 for Grand Valley in Louisville.

Other Stuff

  • The MHSAA is now updating a list of EQ-approved meets. It’s at this link.

  • Heard from a source that the opposition to wind readings as part of the MHSAA early qualifier plan came from coaches who say it it too expensive. (Kind readers, it can be done for the cost of a pizza. After I’m done hitting my head against a wall, I surely will mourn for the future of the sport with thinkers like this in charge of our student athletes.)

  • We haven’t done a major fundraising drive yet this year, but just a reminder that your donations keep this going. Please consider becoming a regular donor, even if it’s a small amount. It truly helps!

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