MHSAA Regional Track Preview.

Written Monday May 14th at 11:40 PM

Hello all with the OAA League meets completed here are the outlook and projections heading into the Regional.

Regional 6.1 @ West Bloomfield

WEST BLOOMFIELD

OAK PARK

SEAHOLM

GROVES

FARMINGTON

HARRISON

NORTH FARMINGTON

ROYAL OAK

SOUTHFIELD ARTS AND TECH

BERKLEY

Birmingham Brother Rice

Farmington Hills Mercy

Detroit University-Detroit Jesuit

Livonia Stevenson

Detroit Renaissance

Redford Thurston

BOYS FAVORITE: Oak Park: The Knights bring the relays and the sprints to the party. Oak Park is also loaded with three very talented 400 meter runners and solid sprinters as mentioned to go along with their stout mid-distance. The Knights are expected to score big points at this meet as they should. Balance will be a concern heading into this meet for the Gold champs.

GIRLS FAVORITE: Oak Park: The Knights are solid once again this season as they have athletes around the board, although not deep but highly motivated especially in the mid distance events like the 400 and the 800 meter runs, along with their relays. The lack of balance for Oak Park is concerning.

BOYS TOP CHALLENGER: Seaholm: There are going to be plenty of challengers to the Knights from different areas of the regional. Farmington, Southfield Arts and Tech, and West Bloomfield could pose a threat in the sprints while Royal Oak brings a distance threat but something tells me that the Maples could be the team that could be for real because of its balance. If these things show up for Seaholm then it could give Oak Park trouble because of the Knights lack of balance.

GIRLS TOP CHALLENGER: Seaholm and Royal Oak: Anytime you have balance against a team like Oak Park it could come in handy and that’s what the White champs have, balance. The Maples have the distance, the sprints, field events, and hurdles to give the Knights a run for their money. Another team that could give Oak Park fits is Royal Oak, the Ravens like the Maples have the distance and field events to give the Knights fits but balance remains a question for Royal Oak.

BOYS PICK: I think Oak Park wins this regional but Seaholm will battle and could very well give the Knights their greatest challenge. Farmington, Groves, Southfield Arts and Tech, and Royal Oak will score in this meet as well but I don't think they have the balance to challenge either Oak Park or Seaholm. The Knights have too much in the mid-distance and sprints to counteract the lack of balance and especially the field events. PICK: OAK PARK.

GIRLS PICK: The Knights will score big in a ton of events but the balance concerns me with them. Seaholm and Royal Oak could cancel each other out which could give Oak Park the regional in a tight one. PICK: OAK PARK.

Region 8.1 @ Warren Mott

TROY

TROY ATHENS

Anchor Bay

Chippewa Valley

Macomb Dakota

L’Anse Creuse North

L’Anse Creuse

Port Huron

Port Huron Northern

Utica

Utica Ford II

Sterling Heights Stevenson

Sterling Heights

Warren Mott

BOYS FAVORITE: Macomb Dakota: When you have the most kids in the State then you should be the favorite in the Boys side of things. The Cougars are loaded everywhere and should score big points in this regional.

GIRLS FAVORITE: Troy: The White Champs will be loaded in the distance events. They bring a ton of experience as well as they are the State Champs in Cross Country. The Colts should be ready to go into Macomb County and dominate this regional but there will be some challengers that await them.

BOYS CHALLENGER: Anchor Bay and Warren Mott: The Tars are a team to watch, especially with their distance but sprints and field events are a question mark for them. Another team that could make some noise as well is Warren Mott being that the meet is on the Mauraders home track.

GIRLS CHALLENGER: Port Huron Northern and Macomb Dakota: The Huskies could do some damage at this regional. Port Huron Northern had a strong showing winning the Sterling Invite a few weeks ago and is one of those teams that are state ranked. The other team that could give the Colts trouble is Macomb Dakota. The Cougars with their depth will try to load up the sprints against Troy to give themselves a chance.

BOYS PICK: I’m going against the grind here so give me Warren Mott pulling out a big upset of Macomb Dakota in this regional. PICK: WARREN MOTT.

GIRLS PICK: I’m not picking against the Colts despite Port Huron Northern and Macomb Dakota having strong says here, that’s enough said. PICK: TROY.

Region 9.1 @ Rochester

AVONDALE

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

ADAMS

ROCHESTER

STONEY CREEK

LAKE ORION

OXFORD

CLARKSTON

Grand Blanc

Holly

Utica Eisenhower

Waterford Kettering

Waterford Mott

Romeo

BOYS FAVORITE: Grand Blanc: The Bobcats will be loaded again especially in the distance, field events, and hurdles. The sprints will be the question for Grand Blanc to see where they are at in a loaded field.

GIRLS FAVORITE: Lake Orion: The Dragons have a ton of balance that could do some damage like they did last season. Lake Orion has not lost a duel or an invitational this season. The Red champs seems to be picking up steam at the right time of the year.

BOYS CHALLENGER: Lake Orion: The Dragons could pose as the Bobcats greatest threat coming into the regional. Lake Orion matches up well with Grand Blanc in the hurdles, sprints, and field events coming into the matchup on paper. Not to say that Oxford and Stoney Creek whom is the White Champs will score big in this meet but right now the Red Champs are the biggest threat.

GIRLS CHALLENGER: Grand Blanc, Stoney Creek, Clarkston, Waterford Mott, and Bloomfield Hills: The Bobcats also have balance like the Dragons and could very well be a battle like it was last season at Lake Orion when the Dragons won that regional. The Cougars and Blackhawks are both wildcards here. Stoney Creek because of its depth leading themselves a strong second place finish in the White meet and Bloomfield Hills because of the ultimate utility girl Olivia Lopez. The Corsairs have the distance that can do some major damage. The Wolves could be a long shot in this regional because they are getting one of their distance runners back but the lack of balance is a big concern for Clarkston.

BOYS PICK: This regional will be competitive but at the end of the day the Bobcats have just enough to win like they did last season at Lake Orion. PICK: GRAND BLANC.

GIRLS PICK: This could be Dragons vs Bobcats part two but the Wolves, Cougars, Corsairs, and Blackhawks will try to create havoc for both teams. I think Lake Orion repeats like they did last season over Grand Blanc in a tight one. PICK: LAKE ORION.

Region 15.2 @ South Lyon East

FERNDALE

HAZEL PARK

PONTIAC

Pontiac Notre Dame Prep

Orchard Lake St. Marys

Birmingham Detroit Country Day

Cranbrook-Kingswood

Clawson

Birmingham Marian

Detroit Communication Media Arts

Detroit Mumford

South Lyon East

Detroit Old Redford

Madison Heights Lamphere

Redford Union

Livonia Clarenceville

BOYS FAVORITE: South Lyon East: The Cougars are talented everywhere whether it’s in the relays or in the field events. South Lyon East was in the middle of the pack in the newly formed Lakes Valley Conference. They have played a tough schedule and is not only built for the present but the future as well.

GIRLS FAVORITE: South Lyon East: The Cougars are the hosts but they have their fair share of relays and runners on the girls side of this regional. It could be interesting to see what South Lyon East brings to the party.

BOYS CHALLENGER: Ferndale: The Eagles could give the Cougars some trouble because of their hurdle, relays, and field event threat. Ferndale is also young as well. Expect the Eagles to score a ton of points in this regional.

GIRLS CHALLENGER: Birmingham Marian: The Mustangs could be top challenger to the Cougars. Birmingham Marian should have some runners that could contend in this regional.

BOYS PICK: The hosts will prevail here in a tight one. PICK: SOUTH LYON EAST.

GIRLS PICK: If Birmingham Marian can keep this close then they have a shot but it’s hard not to go against the Cougars. PICK: SOUTH LYON EAST.