The Blue Water Running Podcast

Last track season, Cros-Lex’s Connor Pepin saw huge gains in his performance, going from a 2:14 to a 2:02 in the 800, a 4:46 to 4:31 mile, he won the Thumb Meet of Champs 3200 in 10:15, a 17-second PR, and also helped his 4x800 and 4x400 relays qualify for the state finals: the 4x800 won the Bluewater Meet of Champs (as did the 4x400), the BWAC Title, Marysville Invitational, and Regionals.  Connor then opened his senior cross country season with a big statement, running his first sub-17 minute race in 16:48 to take second, over a minute improvement from the 18:03 he opened with last fall on his home course at the Mike Jackson Invitational.  That was faster than any time he ran last season and his overall PR by 16 seconds. He doubled down on that Wednesday, dropping another six seconds and running 16:38, winning the Cass City Invite. This was Pepin’s first career victory individually, and his low-stick scoring was enough to push the Pioneers to the team win as well, edging out EPBP Laker by eight points.  For his efforts, Pepin earned the first Blue Water Running Athlete of the Week nomination for the 2026 cross country season.  Join us as we chat about the season, Connor’s goals for the future, and get to know him personally as a Blue Water Area athlete.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

August 19, 2026 kicks off the official MHSAA competition date for high school cross country, and it’s time for the 2026 Blue Water Running Cross Country Preview! The preview is based on last season’s performance statistics, and a survey is sent to all the area coaches, providing a brief overview of the local teams and highlighting some key athletes to watch.  Whoever responds has their quotes and info added into the preview, which is why some teams’ write-ups are significantly longer than others.  Unless a coach specifically mentions an incoming freshman (last year’s 8th graders) or they are relevant to roster numbers, they are not usually included in the preview, since it's more difficult to predict runner performance without any high school experience.Blue Water Running covers Algonac, Almont, Anchor Bay, Armada, Austin Catholic, Capac, Cros-Lex, Dryden, Imlay City, Kimball New Life Christian, Kimball Landmark Academy, Macomb Lutheran North, Marine City, Marine City Cardinal Mooney, Marysville, Memphis, Michigan Athletic Club for Homeschoolers, New Haven, Port Huron High, Port Huron Northern, North Branch, Richmond, Saint Clair, Yale, and the two local area community colleges, which include SC4 and Macomb Community College.A few interesting notes about this year’s season:Algonac leaves the BWAC for the MAC Blue, while Macomb Lutheran North enters the BWAC.BIG REGIONAL CHANGES…The majority of Blue Water Area teams race in the D2-17 regional at Columbus Park. It’s not hard to imagine that regional race times will need to be much faster this year to earn a state qualification. Why?  Read on...Holly High School was added to D2-17, which was in a much tougher team regional last year.  The top three girls there were sub-18, and an 18:58 was 15th place.  Holly’s girls were second (17:39) and eighth (18:38).  For comparison, 19:40 won our regional, and 15th place was 21:04.  Holly’s top three boys ran 16:01 (14th), 16:17 (22nd), and 16:18 (23rd), while our boys’ regional winner ran 16:18, and 15th place was 17:27.Marian (Bloomfield Hills) is an all-girls school joining our region, and they have a pack of three girls in 20:24, 20:28, 21:05, and 21:09, very comparable to the girls' teams already in our area.  So does Pontiac Notre Dame Prep, with runners at 20:58, 21:02, and 21:31.  While one could argue that a course’s difficulty and technicality affect times across various regionals elsewhere, the Columbus course has already been notably fast: 60% of both race fields set personal bests in the regional races last fall, and almost 75% in 2024.Remember: This is just one perspective of potential outcomes for the season.  It’s not a perfect prediction or any type of expectation; it’s just a summary of what the season might hold and helps coaches, athletes, and fans of the sport keep up to date on area teams.  DISCLAIMER: After days…weeks…months of studying stats, names, and numbers, I will inevitably make a mistake in spelling or time accuracy: it is not intentional, and I apologize in advance for any errors.  Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

In this episode, we have Coach Matt Fecht, the head cross country and track coach at Macomb Community College.  We will discuss a smorgasbord of running topics and themes, such as:Will Coach Fecht remain the reigning team putt-putt champion?What advantages does community college offer their student athletes?Where are some of the unique places the Monarchs will be running this season?How does the team build camaraderie and have fun?What are the team goals as they enter competition season?And many, many more interesting (and sometimes random) running-related items. If you are a local coach who would like to join me for an episode to chat about your team, please reach out at bluewaterrunning.org or on our social media sites.  You can also submit your input on the upcoming season for the written article, as well.Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Welcome to another episode of The Blue Water Running Podcast, where we feature and celebrate the amazing high school and collegiate cross country and track and field athletes and their accomplishments from the Blue Water Area.  In this episode, we kick off our 2026 cross country season preview with SC4 coach Andrea Rheaume.  She’ll give us some insight into the new women's roster, what summer training looks like for the Skippers, their team culture, and what’s on their future checklist of goals as we enter competition season.  If you are a local coach that would like to join me for an episode to chat about your team, please reach out at bluewaterrunning.org or on our social media sites.  You can also submit your input on the upcoming season for the written article, as well.Please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission.  You can also follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Welcome to another episode of The Blue Water Running Podcast, where we feature and celebrate the amazing high school and collegiate cross country and track and field athletes and their accomplishments from the Blue Water Area.  On Saturday, May 30, Algonac sophomore Jenna Dobbs earned her first All-State track and field medal by placing fourth at the Division 3 state finals in the 400-meter dash, running 59.36.  After chasing a sub-60-second time all season, she broke the school record, which just happened to belong to her own mom.  Jenna now sits at number six all-time in the Blue Water Area and has the current number one time in the area from this 2026 season.  Along with trying cross-country for the first time last fall and dropping her 5K time by nearly two minutes, she is also a competitive gymnast balancing multiple high-level sports.Join us as we chat about her season, her goals for the future, and get to know her personally as a Blue Water Area athlete.“Hard days are the best because that’s when champions are made.” – Gabby DouglasSend Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

On Saturday, May 16, North Branch’s ladies claimed the team regional crown, just edging out Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, 102-98.  Leading the way was the double-sprint champion Penelope McNutt, running qualifying state spots by winning the 100 in 13.04 and placing second in the 200 in 26.69.  Penelope teamed up with Aubree Deshetsky, Lily Hurd, and Sydney Bailey to win the 4x100 in 50.47, and also qualified in the 4x200 in 1:47.  McNutt has dominated the Blue Water Area sprints this season: she was a four-for-four BWAC champ, winning the 100, 200, 4x100, and 4x200, and also did the same in all four events at the Marysville Invitational.  She hit an Early Qualifying mark in both sprint events and has bests of 12.48 and 25.92, and is the only area girl to have run sub-26 in the 200.  Other than the preseason invitational opener and the large Davison Twilight Invitational, the Broncos’ 4x100 has remained undefeated.  McNutt is ranked 10th in the D2 100 and 13th in the 200, with the relays currently ranked 5th and 11th, so an All-State finish is looking probable for McNutt.  Join us as we chat about her season thus far, her upcoming goals, and get to know her personally as a Blue Water Area athlete.“You will never know how good you might have become unless you try”- Mike MentzerSend Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

In this episode, we have our first guest from Imlay City High School: junior sprint sensation Brett Lestage.  Brett has had a fantastic season, hitting early qualifying marks in the 100 and 200-meter dash, and coming very close in the 400 meters in his first attempt at the distance.  Brett set his PR in the 100 on April 25, running 10.78 to join the elite sub-11 club and currently ranks fifth in the event statewide in Division 2.  His 200 best is 22.25, and his 400 PR is 50.67. He won all three sprint events at the BWAC Championships on May 5, along with the 4x200 relay, making him four-for-four in league titles.  We’ll chat with Brett about his training, season goals, and what he hopes to accomplish during his first appearance at the state finals, and get to know him personally as a Blue Water Area athlete. "The only impossible journey is the one you never begin." - Tony RobbinsThank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Today’s guest is North Branch senior Aubree Deshetsky, an incredibly versatile and accomplished athlete.  Aubree has dominated the throwing events in the Blue Water Area Conference, her D2 regional, and is one of the best discus and shot put athletes in the state, with current bests of 42’-4” and 136’-5”. Currently undefeated in any throwing event yet this year, she’s been All-State in both throwing events since her sophomore year for a total of four state medals.  At the 2025 state finals, she was second in shot put and third in the discus, and is looking for a state title to wrap up her final high school season. While primarily known for throwing, Aubree is also a very accomplished high jumper and runner, jumping 5-1, running a low 13 in the 100-meter dash, and an integral part of the record-breaking sprint relays at North Branch: she’s even run a 2:27 800.  We will chat with Aubree about her training, recent performances, and goals for the season, and get to know her both on and off the track.  James 1:2-3, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Junior Brandon Ziehmer of Anchor Bay has been steadily improving across a variety of distances over his career. As a freshman, he ran a 53-second 400, but dropped that to 50.76 by the end of his sophomore season.  In the 800, his 9th-grade best of 2:13 is now a sub-2.  He was part of the 16 Ways Track Club 4x800-meter relay, which finished fourth at the MITCA championships and ninth in the DMR. Ziehmer traveled to Texas last summer to compete in the AAU Junior Olympic Games in the 4x400 relay, where they took 34th in the country in the 15-16-year-old age group division in a time of 3:31.  Ziehmer also ran his cross country PR at the regional meet last fall in 16:40 to take 18th and earn an individual trip to the D1 state finals: his freshman year, he was part of the first cross country team from Anchor Bay to qualify for the state meet since the mid-1970s.  We will chat with Brandon about his training, goals, and what’s next for him this season.Thank you so much for tuning into today’s Blue Water Running podcast. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please share, subscribe, and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  If you have an idea for a great topic or guest you’d like to hear about, feel free to contact me through the website links or show notes.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.  You can also find meet and athlete reports, articles, and photographs at www.bluewaterrunning.org.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

It’s time for the 2026 Boys Outdoor Track and Field Season Preview!  The statistics used to write the season preview include BWAC, MAC, and Catholic High School League results, Blue Water Area meets such as the Marysville Invitational, Muskrat Invitational, Blue Water Meet of Champions, Thumb Meet, and Macomb County Meet, and, of course, Regional and State Finals qualifying and placements.  The top ten area performance lists for each event also played a driving role in making predictions.A couple of notes about the process: Consistency is key: when reviewing so many performances over a months-long period, there had to be consistent participation and placement throughout the season to gauge performance and potential for improvement. I don’t include freshmen (last year’s 8th graders) because they may end up participating in a different spring sport or not come out for track in high school.  I did not preview relay events because of graduated athletes and relay leg changes, making it difficult to predict relay team members and times.In most cases, PBs (personal bests) from last year's meets that were hand-timed won’t be used for the preview, nor will I use them for top times and marks lists this season.  When you see PRs for everyone across the board by huge margins, especially in sprint events, that’s a sign that the times are usually inaccurate. With the requirement of FAT timing for state meet qualification, it’s a more reliable standard.  Early Qualifying Marks are in effect for the second year; athletes can meet a state-meet qualifying mark before regionals. An EQ is defined by the MHSAA as “an athlete who achieves the mark in any round of a valid pre-qualified event which meets the proper standards (FAT TIMED and 6+ teams) is qualified to participate in the LP finals in that event”. An automatic qualifier (AQ) is the standard needed to run AT the regional meet outside of a top-two finish.Finally, I’m sure to miss someone who deserves a nod or mention: with such a large amount of data across a long period, it is inevitable.  I cross-check and reference and scour athletic.net repeatedly, but Blue Water Running is just me, so sometimes, things get missed. I’m human. Also, my apologies in advance if I mispronounce or misspell your name or incorrectly type a time or mark.I can’t wait to get back out there and see all of you running, jumping, and throwing.  You can find results and articles on bluewaterrunning.org and our social media sites throughout the season.   You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. You can also check out photo albums of meets that will be linked through the website and download and share them to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.   If you are interested in sponsoring coverage or partnering with Blue Water Running as an advertiser to reach and support local athletes, please reach out via our website or social media channels.  Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

It’s time for the 2026 Girls Outdoor Track and Field Season Preview!  The statistics used to write the season preview include BWAC, MAC, and Catholic High School League results, Blue Water Area meets such as the Marysville Invitational, Muskrat Invitational, Blue Water Meet of Champions, Thumb Meet, and Macomb County Meet, and, of course, Regional and State Finals qualifying and placements.  The top ten area performance lists for each event also played a driving role in making predictions.A couple of notes about the process: Consistency is key: when reviewing so many performances over a months-long period, there had to be consistent participation and placement throughout the season to gauge performance and potential for improvement. I don’t include freshmen (last year’s 8th graders) because they may end up participating in a different spring sport or not come out for track in high school.  I did not preview relay events because of graduated athletes and relay leg changes, making it difficult to predict relay team members and times.In most cases, PBs (personal bests) from last year's meets that were hand-timed won’t be used for the preview, nor will I use them for top times and marks lists this season.  When you see PRs for everyone across the board by huge margins, especially in sprint events, that’s a sign that the times are usually inaccurate. With the requirement of FAT timing for state meet qualification, it’s a more reliable standard.  Early Qualifying Marks are in effect for the second year; athletes can meet a state-meet qualifying mark before regionals. An EQ is defined by the MHSAA as “an athlete who achieves the mark in any round of a valid pre-qualified event which meets the proper standards (FAT TIMED and 6+ teams) is qualified to participate in the LP finals in that event”. An automatic qualifier (AQ) is the standard needed to run AT the regional meet outside of a top-two finish.Finally, I’m sure to miss someone who deserves a nod or mention: with such a large amount of data across a long period, it is inevitable.  I cross-check and reference and scour athletic.net repeatedly, but Blue Water Running is just me, so sometimes, things get missed. I’m human. Also, my apologies in advance if I mispronounce or misspell your name or incorrectly type a time or mark.I can’t wait to get back out there and see all of you running, jumping, and throwing.  You can find results and articles on bluewaterrunning.org and our social media sites throughout the season.   You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. You can also check out photo albums of meets that will be linked through the website and download and share them to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.   If you are interested in sponsoring coverage or partnering with Blue Water Running as an advertiser to reach and support local athletes, please reach out via our website or social media channels.  Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

It’s the second anniversary of The Blue Water Running Podcast! It has been an incredible privilege to get to know local athletes and hear many amazing and inspiring stories from the Blue Water Area and beyond.  As we move into our third year, the top two episodes of all time so far are Season One, Episode #15 with Matt Armelagos of Michigan XC Speed Ratings, and Season One, Episode #14 with Thomas Westphal, former Anchor Bay High School and current MSU runner. The very first episode of the podcast aired two years ago on March 28, 2024, and featured 2023 Armada graduate Camden Khon (who happens to be my oldest child).  Camden runs cross country, indoor, and outdoor track for Spring Arbor University, where he recently earned indoor NAIA All-American status by taking third in the mile in 4:04 (in a race separated by tenths of a second) and eighth in the Distance Medley Relay.  He also garnered his first cross-country All-American award with a top-30 finish at the national meet in November and set the course record earlier that month by winning the Crossroads Conference cross-country championship. Camden is the first athlete from Spring Arbor to be named the USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week for cross country, and earned the honor again during the indoor track season for his win at the Notre Dame Meyo Invitational open mile, where he ran a 4:03.9, the #12 all-time finish in the NAIA. He is back on the pod to reflect on his national meet experience, how he has dealt with his emotions regarding his race, and his continuing quest for the sub-4-minute mile.  While many people know Cam as a runner, they may not know that he competes while living with an autoimmune disease called Ankylosing Spondylitis.  Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting the spine and pelvic joints, causing severe back pain, stiffness, and potential spinal fusion ("bamboo spine") along with other symptoms. It usually strikes teens and young adults, with symptoms often worse at night/rest and improved with movement. While no cure exists, treatment includes exercises, physical therapy, and medication. Males are three times as likely as females to be diagnosed.  More than three million people live with AS in the United States, and every May, there is World AS Day to bring awareness to the disease.  Running and living with arthritis seem to be contradictory activities, but we’ll chat with Camden about how he approaches and addresses the challenges that come with AS and how he hasn’t let this diagnosis stop him from achieving his goals.  Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: words can’t express how thankful and blessed I am to have been able to do this for another year.  Please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org. If you are interested in sponsoring coverage or partnering with Blue Water Running as an advertiser to reach and support local athletes, please reach out via our website or social media channels.  Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

As 2025 wraps up and we finish another incredible year of local athletics, let's take a moment to look back on the highlights and achievements of the Blue Water Area and how athletes have shown us what it means to push limits, break barriers, and strive for greatness.  We'll be shining the spotlight on the standout performances, record-breaking moments, and inspiring stories from cross country and track and field in our community this year. So, lace up your shoes, get ready to sprint into the new year, and join me as we celebrate the best of Blue Water Running from 2025.  Once again, thank you so much for tuning into the Blue Water Running podcast.  It has been an extreme joy and privilege to be a part of such amazing accomplishments across our area this year.  If you would like to listen to more of the athlete interviews featured in this episode, you can tune in to prior episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.A very special thank you to this year’s sponsors, Elite Feet of Port Huron and Verlinde Insurance, who have helped make coverage possible.  Thank you also to each and every one of you for listening, reading, and subscribing: you are the reason Blue Water Running exists.  I wish you a Happy New Year and look forward to seeing what 2026 brings!Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Philippians 4:13 - “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”GVSU runner Abby Vanderkooi is back for another episode of the pod and has a great perspective to share. If you haven’t heard her first interview, I highly encourage you to take a listen, as she details her incredibly inspiring story of recovering from disordered eating.  Abby was a cross country state champion for Muskegon Western Christian High School all four years of high school, with a 5K best of 16:48, and on the track had bests of 10:29 in the 3200, 4:57 in 1600, and placed third in the nation at the 2018 Foot Locker National XC Meet.  However, despite her amazing successes, Abby struggled through some very dark years as she battled an eating disorder and the recurrent injuries that plagued her throughout the majority of her collegiate career.  She firmly believes the most important thing in life isn’t JUST running - it’s being a healthy, balanced person with running as a part of her life.  She is an outspoken advocate for transparency surrounding the stigma of eating disorders and recovery for people struggling with the same issues, particularly through her Instagram account, Running on Ice Cream.  You can take a listen to her story on Season 1, Episode 20.After working hard at staying mentally and physically healthy, Abby has had her best year yet: she recently wrapped up her collegiate cross country career at the Division 2 National meet in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on November 22, where she placed sixth in 20:25 for the 6K distance, earning All-American honors and leading the Lakers to a D2 team title, edging out Colorado School of Mines by four points. She just opened her indoor track season at the GVSU Holiday Open, where she ran a 16:28 to take fifth, also a PR.  We will catch up with Abby, hear her perspective on her latest accomplishments, and discuss what goals she has in mind for the future.  She will also remind you to stay consistent and healthy, keep your love for the sport, don’t compare yourself to others, and believe that you are strong and capable, no matter where you are in your sports journey.IF YOU OR ANYONE YOU CARE ABOUT IS STRUGGLING WITH AN EATING DISORDER, PLEASE REACH OUT AND GET THE HELP YOU NEED.  Talk to a trusted friend, teammate, coach, doctor, or anyone who can point you in the right direction to begin your journey back to physical AND mental health.  You can also find resources through the National Eating Disorders Association website.  https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-help/.  You deserve to be the best version of yourself you can be, for now and in the future.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

"The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is: I'm not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be outworked, period. You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me. But if we get on the treadmill together, there are two things: You're getting off first, or I'm going to die. It's really that simple."-Will SmithIn this episode, former Anchor Bay athlete and current MSU Spartan Thomas Westphal is back for his second interview, and wow, a lot has happened since he last came on the pod in June of 2024. If you haven’t heard our first conversation, it’s season 1, episode 14. I encourage you to take a listen, as it gives you more context, where we talked about his debut in the sport in his first cross country race as a high school freshman, running his first 5k in 22:23.  Thomas then went on to overcome injuries and obstacles to chase dreams with determination, hard work, guts, and grit and become the most successful runner in Anchor Bay history and one of the best in the state, winning the Midwest Foot Locker cross country regional, a 3200 meter state title, setting multiple school records, and more. Since graduating high school, Thomas redshirted his first year at Michigan State University, training through the 2024-25 school year, and debuted this fall as a collegiate freshman.  He immediately made an impact for the Spartans, turning the heads of the Big Ten conference and the NCAA as a whole.  He was the Big Ten Freshman of the Week twice and helped MSU place second in the Big Ten Championships (their best finish since 2016), with an 8K PR of 23:25 to finish third overall and the highest-placing freshman.  Thomas was later named to the Great Lakes All-Region team in his first attempt at the 10K distance, taking 12th in 30:06, then dropped that PR to a 29:19 at the NCAA Championships to finish 59th as the top runner for MSU on the Gans Creek course in Missouri.  He was voted the Big Ten Freshman of the Year by Big Ten Coaches, the first Spartan man to do so since 2011 and only the fifth overall.  Thomas will give us some insight into his phenomenal NCAA championship debut, his transition to collegiate life and running, a look inside his training, and what the future holds for him as he competes at the D1 level.Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.  A subscription to the website with unlimited access to all articles is $5 a month or $50 for the entire year and helps cover the cost of web, podcast, and photography site hosting.Blue Water Running coverage is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron and Verlinde Insurance, both located in Richmond, Michigan.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

We've got a very special guest who just wrapped up a monumental freshman cross country season, earning a prestigious national honor.Today, we're talking with Brynn Hurley, a runner for Saint Clair County Community College, better known as the SC4 Skippers. Brynn formerly ran for the Cros-Lex Pioneers, where she qualified for the state meet in cross country all four years of her high school career. During this time, the Pioneers won back-to-back BWAC and regional team titles in 2022 and 2023.  She also qualified for the track state meet competition in her junior and senior years in the 4x800 relay, which set the BWAC record (10:02) and school record (9:46) in 2024.  Brynn had a PR of 19:56 for cross country coming into college, which she lowered to a 19:02 this season at the NJCAA Region 12 Championships, where she placed fourth and earned All-Region and All-Conference honors.Brynn recently traveled to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and battled through snowy, tough conditions at the NJCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships, finishing 15th overall to secure the title of NJCAA All-American! We're going to dive into the challenges of that snowy national race, the transition from high school to college running, and what it means to be an All-American.Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.  A subscription to the website with unlimited access to all articles is $5 a month or $50 for the entire year, and helps cover the cost of web, podcast, and photography site hosting fees. Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and the importance of preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Our episode guest is Xavier Roman, a senior at Macomb Lutheran North High School.  Xavier has qualified for the state meet every year of his career and ran his PR of 16:18 early in the season on August 29 at the Golden Grizzlies Invite.  After a meet the following week, he didn’t race for almost a full month due to illness and injury, but despite that, he came back at the Macomb County Meet to take 15th and earn All-County status, which was his highest finish at that race in his career, helping his team win the small schools division trophy.  Xavier was a large part of the Lutheran North cross country regional championship last fall, finishing as the individual runner-up, which they hope to repeat this upcoming Saturday. As the Mustangs like to say, “One team, One fight”.You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.  A subscription to the website with unlimited access to all articles is $5 a month or $50 for the entire year, and helps cover the cost of web, podcast, and photography site hosting fees. Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is also a supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

"Doing the hard work is always easier than the regret you have later."Our episode guest is Maxwell Durham, a senior at New Haven High School. Max has seen significant, steady growth as a runner over the years, starting at 27 minutes for a 5K as a freshman to a 19:51 as a sophomore, 18:16 as a junior, to his PR of 16:58 this season at the Autumn Classic, where he ran 16:58. Max just won the MAC Blue Jamboree in a time of 17:29.  Max is our first guest from New Haven High School, so we will get to know him as a Blue Water Area athlete.Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Our episode guest is Owen Beindit, a senior at Algonac High School. Owen has seen significant, steady growth as a runner over the years, starting at 21 minutes for a 5K as a freshman to his PR of 16:58 last year as a junior at MIS. Owen has qualified for the D3 state finals every year of his high school career and recently finished third at the second BWAC jamboree as his team’s top runner for the first time.  He’s also run a 2:06 in the 800 and 5:09 in the 1600 on the track. We will chat with Owen and get to know him as a Blue Water Area athlete."Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." Tim NotkeHebrews 12:1 "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, as well as access athlete and meet reports, photography, and more on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Our episode guest is Brady VanConant, a sophomore at Yale High School.  When Brady raced his first high school 5K, he ran an 18:49 and earned himself a spot in the varsity top 7, and by the end of his freshman season, he had dropped that time to the mid-17-minute range.  This year, he set a PR of 17:01 by finishing 9th at the Algonac Muskrat Classic on Sept. 6, then followed that up a few days later with a win at the first BWAC jamboree at Almont High School on Sept. 9.  He was nominated for the Blue Water Area Athlete of the Week by the Times Herald this past week.  Brady is a top-tier baseball player, as well, so while track isn’t the spring sport he focuses on, I’m sure he would also succeed on the oval.  We’ll chat with Brady and get to know him as a Blue Water Area athlete.Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Our episode guest is Logan Romain, a senior at Dryden High School.  Logan has come a long way in his high school cross country career, starting as a freshman in the mid-20-minute range for the 5K distance, and dropping all the way to a PR of 17:26 last week at the Holly Invitational, where he placed fifth.  Logan won the BTC Blue/Red League Meet, was the top runner for the Cardinals at last fall’s D4 regional, which they won as a team, and ran his previous best at the 2024 state meet in 17:32.  On the track in the spring, Logan won the 1600 and 3200 at the Dryden Classic Invitational, was the 3200 league and regional champ, and set a PR at the state meet of 10:45.  Logan’s favorite quote is, “"The meaning of life is to experience as much as possible and have fun with it, embarrassment is just holding you back."Thank you for listening to the podcast. Please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission: to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Our episode guest is Claire Albrecht, a freshman at Armada High School and the first ninth-grader interviewed on the podcast.  In the preseason, Matt Armelagos of Michigan Speed Ratings ranked Claire third in D2 Region 17, and she’s lived up to the prediction.  Claire opened her first high school season at the Algonac Muskrat Classic, placing tenth as the only freshman in the top ten, then followed that debut a few days later by winning the first BWAC Jamboree in a time of 20:54.  This past weekend, she ran the Holly Invitational, taking 11th and dropping her PR by 30 seconds on a hilly course to run 20:24.  That race earned her a spot on the top ten times board at Armada High School.  She was also nominated for the Times Herald Athlete of the Week for her efforts.  As Claire quoted from Ricky Bobby in Talladega Nights, "If you're not first, you're last!" Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Our episode guest is Madelyn Barkley, a sophomore at Cros-Lex High School. Madelyn had a great freshman season for the Pioneers last fall, dropping from a 23:01 to a 21:08 by the end of her first high school season.  She was part of her team’s top five scorers, helping them earn a team regional qualification to the D2 state finals.  Madelyn recently won the Skippers Invitational at Goodells Park over Labor Day weekend in a time of 21:13, then dropped her PR again at the Algonac Muskrat Classic on Sept. 6, placing sixth in another PR of 20:44.  She also dropped her mile and two-mile times significantly during the track season, along with running a relay leg on the 3200-meter relay team, which won the Reese Invite and the BWAC League Meet.  Madelyn’s favorite quote is by Mica Wood: “Be consistent. A lot of people are looking for the secret thing to get them better, and I think that the best thing to get you where you want to be is by showing up every day.” Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is also a supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Our episode guest is Samantha Langolf, a senior at Port Huron Northern High School.  Sam had a breakout season for the Huskies last fall, dropping from a 21:23 in her first meet to a 19:17 PR at the state finals to become the fifth-fastest girl in school history; she returns this season with the second-fastest time from 2024 in the Blue Water Area.  Langolf and her teammate Haley Sharp also helped lead PHN to a second-place finish in the MAC Division Championships. Sam also ran PRs in the 800, 1600, and 3200 during the spring track season, and was runner-up in both the mile and two-mile at the Blue Water Meet of Champions. Samantha’s accomplishments are noteworthy in and of themselves, but are all the more impressive when you realize she left her first official high school cross country practice as a freshman in an ambulance.  She passed out, and after the initial assumption that she’d had a seizure, she was unable to run until doctors ran tests and figured out what was going on medically.  A University of Michigan heart specialist diagnosed her with POTS, which stands for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome, a condition where the heart rate increases excessively when standing.  It's more common in women, especially between the ages of 15 and 50. While the exact causes are still being researched, POTS can sometimes develop after viral infections, surgery, or trauma: experts aren’t sure what causes it. POTS is a form of dysautonomia, which means it's a disorder of the autonomic nervous system, the part of your nervous system that controls involuntary functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion. The body has trouble regulating blood pressure and heart rate from lying down to standing, which can lead to a significant increase in heart rate without a corresponding drop in blood pressure. Some of the symptoms include lightheadedness or dizziness, fainting or near-fainting, fatigue, heart palpitations, nausea, headaches, brain fog, exercise intolerance, gastrointestinal issues, and more, so you can see how challenging this disorder would be for anyone, let alone a distance runner.Samantha will share her experiences in running, her perspective on this disorder, how she maintains her health and focus in competition, and what her goals are for this season as a Blue Water Area athlete.You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

This episode features Reese Powers, a 2022 Marysville High School grad and recent Michigan State University cross country/track athlete.  Reese is a very accomplished runner: in high school, she was the 2021 Division 2 state champion in the 400-meter dash with a PR of 57.71, was all-state in the 400, 4x200, and 4x400 several times over her career, along with going four-for-four as regional champion her junior year in the 400, 800, 4x200, and 4x400 and undefeated in any event she entered in the region, MAC Gold, and the Blue Water Meet of Champs.  During her time as a Spartan, she dropped her high school 800 best from 2:18 to 2:12, ran a 5:00 flat indoor mile, and took a cross country PR of 19:37 to a 5K best of 17:54.  Reese is here to give us a perspective into life as a D1 athlete in a Big Ten program, her point of view on the implications of the new NCAA roster cap rules following the House v. NCAA settlement, how it has affected her personally, and give us insight into her personal life as a Blue Water Area runner.Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Our episode guest is Leo Bearrs, a senior at Yale High School.  While local Blue Water Area athletes might recognize Leo from around the BWAC conference meets, what they might not know is that Leo is also a racewalker and steeplechaser. Leo recently won the Michigan USATF Junior Olympic Championships 3000-meter racewalk and 2K steeplechase in Olivet on June 21. He also won the regional championship in both events in Louisville, Kentucky, in July, qualifying for the USATF Junior Olympics National Meet at Savannah State University in Georgia.  Before the heat index of 110 degrees-plus suspended the meet due to a heat delay for other athletes, Leo was able to finish 16th in the steeplechase and 4th in the racewalk. His PR in the racewalk is 19:37, and in the steeplechase, it’s 7:29. We’ll learn what racewalking and steeplechasing are all about, how they differ from running, and interesting and unique facts about these events.  We’ll also get to know Leo personally as an athlete, as well. Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

"The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.“ ~ Fyoder DostoevskyOur guest is Luke Bowman, a recent graduate of Anchor Bay High School. Luke is an accomplished adaptive athlete, competing in track and field at a very competitive level, winning D1 state championships in the 400 meters and shotput for two straight years: he even wheeled a full 5K in 19 minutes at the Macomb County Championships.  Since 2023, Luke has been a fixture at MAC Red meets and an advocate for bringing awareness and opportunities to adaptive athletes.  For reference, wheelchair athletes participate in seated throws, racing events in specialized chairs, and other adapted field events.  In comparison, ambulatory athletes can compete in events like running, jumping, and throwing, potentially using assistive devices as needed; for example, a visually-impaired athlete may have a guide runner.Some of Luke’s accolades include being named the 2024 Sports and Spokes Junior Athlete of the Year, being featured as the Channel 4 WDIV Brag Book Athlete of the Week, and he is an honor roll student, musician, and community volunteer. He’s heading to U of M in the fall as a dual sport athlete for wheelchair basketball and adaptive track & field. Luke will talk to us about his athletic preparation, competition, and advocacy for athletes of all abilities.Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission. You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask your smart speaker to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. You can email [email protected] for more information.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Today's episode features a repeat guest, Noah Verlinde.  Noah first came on the pod last December in episode #30 to talk about his cross country and track experiences at Saginaw Valley State University and his trip to California to race in the NCAA D2 championship event for the first time.  Since then, Noah graduated from SVSU this spring, joined his father in the family business at Verlinde Insurance Agency, and turned his running pursuits to further distances, tackling his first 26.2 miler at the Bayshore Marathon in Traverse City over Memorial weekend.  Not only did he finish, but he was the runner-up, taking second in a blistering time of 2:21:30, which is a 5:23-per-mile pace, and easily hit the Boston Marathon qualifying time of 2:55. The winner of the Bayshore Marathon is a pro runner for Gazelle Sports Elite, so Noah has dipped his toes into elite territory, only five minutes off an Olympic Marathon Trials qualifying time in his first-ever attempt at the distance. Noah also won the Volkslaufe half-marathon in Frankenmuth by ten minutes, taking first in 1:09:12.  We will chat with Noah about his transition from collegiate runner to marathoner and what his long-distance running future holds.Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  You can also subscribe and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can even ask your smart speaker to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photography on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. You can email [email protected] for more information.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

This episode features Algonac High School senior Kate Bennett.  Kate’s outdoor track and field career just ended in the best way possible: on May 31 at the D3 state finals at Kent City High School, she dropped a massive personal best in the 800, running 2:22.91 to finish sixth and earn All-State honors, her first trip ever to the podium.  Kate’s no stranger to the state meet: she is a three-time regional champ and state qualifier in the 800, but her times kept dropping all spring into uncharted territory.  Her prior 800 best last year was a 2:34, and in the 1600 her sophomore year it was a 6:26.  This year? She ran a 5:42 mile at the Muskrat Classic and claimed the Blue Water Meet of Champions title in the 800 in 2:26, her fastest before the state finals.  She also had a successful fall cross-country campaign, taking last year’s PR of 21:40 to a 20:34 and qualifying for the state meet at MIS.  Kate will head to SC4 this fall to continue her collegiate running career.Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. You can visit Verlindeinsurance.com or email [email protected] for more information.    Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Eli Bickel, a North Branch High School junior, joins me to discuss his accomplishments this year in the shot put and discus.  Eli earned All-State in the discus by finishing as the runner-up at the D2 state finals on May 31 with a new personal best of 180'-9" and also finished tenth in the shot put in 52’-2.25”. He has had a season of massive improvements: last year, his bests were 47'-11" and 149’, so he’s throwing significantly farther than he did as a sophomore.  His shot put best stands at 56’-2” after this season.  Eli now holds North Branch school records in both the shot and disc, as well as the Blue Water Area Conference records.  “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” - Tim Notke“Failure to train is training to fail.” - unknownThank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. You can visit Verlindeinsurance.com or email [email protected] for more information.    Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

This episode features St. Clair High School junior Colin Boullard.  At the Anchor Bay Invitational on May 2, Colin ran his best of 15.12 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles, a PR by close to half a second and meeting the Division 2 state early qualifying mark of 15.3 seconds.  Colin is currently the second-fastest high school boy in the event in the Blue Water Running coverage area behind another D1 EQ hurdler, Jonah Konarz of Anchor Bay.  As of the recording of this podcast, he also ranked in the top ten in the state for the event.  Colin is also a 300-meter hurdler with a PR of 41.38, which he ran this weekend at the Marysville Invitational, placing first.  Colin will give us some insight into his introduction and progression into the hurdling events, how he deals with injuries and setbacks, and what keeps him moving forward to seek improvement each year.  I’ll leave you with a quote by Grant Holloway, the 2024 Paris Olympic gold medalist in the 110-meter hurdles and the second-fastest man in history at the event with a personal best of 12.81 seconds, set at the U.S. Olympic Trials on June 26, 2021. He is also a three-time outdoor world champion. In the 60-meter hurdles, Holloway is a three-time world indoor champion and the world indoor record holder with a time of 7.27 seconds set at the 2024 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships.“Run fast and do what you have to do.  I try to not even stress... you just let me know where and when I need to run. The main thing is executing and being prepared and ready when it matters most."Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. You can visit Verlindeinsurance.com or email [email protected] for more information.    Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

This episode features North Branch senior Thomas Kann.  At the Davison Twilight Classic on May 2, Thomas dropped a huge PR and went sub-50 seconds in the open 400-meter dash, running 49.94 to take second place and hit the early qualifying standard of 50.30 for the D2 state finals. This is only the third time Kann has ever raced the 400 meters in his career, and it will be the first time he takes a trip to the state meet. He is currently the fastest high school boy in the event in the Blue Water Running coverage area, now sitting at number one on the top-ten area performance list by over a second. As of the recording of this episode, he also ranked fifth in the state in the D2 400.  After a somewhat heartbreaking regional meet last season, it’s great to see Tommy returning with amazing performances and a bit of a redemption tour.  Stay tuned to hear his plans and goals for this season, his thoughts on the 800 meters as well, and get to know him as a Blue Water Area athlete.Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

In this episode, Cameron Gramzow, an Anchor Bay High School junior, joins me to discuss his incredible improvement this year in the shot put and discus.  Cameron recently set personal bests in both events this week at the MAC Red meet against Dakota High School: he threw 49’-6” in the shot put and 163’-1” in the discus, and currently tops the Blue Water Area performance list. He also set a new school record in the discus, breaking a 47-year-old mark held by Scott Gostovich at 156’-6” from 1977, and met the EQ mark.  Since it was at a duel meet, he’ll have to throw it again, which shouldn’t be a problem: Cameron has been throwing a PR pretty much every meet since the start of the season.  Last year, his bests were 40’-5.5” and 143’-9”, so he’s throwing significantly farther than he did as a sophomore.  Cameron also trains and competes for club Kaizen Throws, and during the indoor season earned all-state honors by placing seventh in the discus with a throw of 148’-7”, 32 feet farther than last indoor season.  We will chat with Cameron about his training, recent performances, and goals for the season, and we will get to know him as an athlete and a person.Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Blue Water Running coverage is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit. They have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. You can visit Verlindeinsurance.com or email [email protected] for more information.    Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

In this episode, I am joined by two of the most delightful ladies in area track and field: Yale High School’s Sadie Dykstra, a junior, and Keirra Taube, a senior.  Not only are they both incredibly talented and accomplished athletes, but they are also humble, hard-working, and hilarious.  Sadie is a D2 state champion in the long jump and hurdles, while Keirra is a state indoor champ in the high jump and an outdoor runner-up.  Together, this dynamic duo led Yale to a second-place team finish: that’s right, the two of them (plus two more ladies on their 4x400 relay) earned enough points to garnish a runner-up trophy at the state meet.Our conversation will cover their individual and team goals, their training, but most importantly, their unique friendship, and I think you’ll find Sadie and Keirra just as fun and interesting as I did...and maybe not exactly what you may have expected.Please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Coverage of Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and have spent years supporting local athletes in the Blue Water Area. They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side. You can visit Verlindeinsurance.com or email [email protected] for more information.    Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

It’s the first anniversary of The Blue Water Running Podcast! One year, forty episodes, and 3500 downloads later, it’s been an incredible privilege to get to know local athletes and hear many amazing and inspiring stories from the Blue Water Area and beyond.  The top two episodes from last year are episode #15 with Matt Armelagos of Michigan XC Speed Ratings, where I heard firsthand from one of the state’s foremost experts on statistics in cross country and track, and the transparent and brave story of Abigail VanderKoi in episode #20, where she shared her journey of recovery and continuing progress in fighting an eating disorder while striving to achieve success in athletics.  The very first episode of the podcast aired on March 28, 2024, and featured 2023 Armada graduate Camden Khon (who happens to be my oldest child).  Camden runs cross country, indoor, and outdoor track for Spring Arbor University, where he recently earned indoor NAIA All-American status by taking fourth in the mile in 4:10 and third in the Distance Medley Relay in a new school record of 9:52, in which he ran the 800-meter leg.  I invited Camden back to the pod to reflect on the last year and his progress from a tenth-grader in high school to a collegiate sophomore: he didn’t start in the sport immediately winning or setting records, and has put in years of hard work to see success. You can still grow and improve each year, even if the results aren’t immediately evident, which is a realistic but encouraging message for those who strive and hope to do the same.  Camden will give us some insight into what racing is like at the NAIA level, advice he’d give a current athlete, and how to keep a mindset that focuses on continual improvement versus overnight success. Thank you so much for listening to the podcast: words can’t express how thankful and blessed I am to have been able to do this for the last year.  Please share an episode to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube, along with athlete and meet reports and photos on the website at bluewaterrunning.org.Blue Water Running coverage is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron. If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, their friendly and knowledgeable staff can help you find the right fit (and they are big fans of running, too). They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.Verlinde Insurance, located in Richmond, Michigan, is a new supporter of coverage on Blue Water Running. Training as an athlete teaches you resilience and preparation. Apply those lessons to your life with their insurance plans. Be ready for anything with them by your side…I have my home, auto, and umbrella insurance policies with Verlinde Insurance and can tell you from personal experience that their rates and customer service are second to none. You can visit Verlindeinsurance.com or email [email protected] for more information.     If you are interested in sponsoring coverage or partnering with Blue Water Running as an advertiser to reach and support local athletes, please reach out via our website or social media channels.  Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Hello and welcome to The Blue Water Running Podcast!  I’m excited about sunshine and warm breezes…ok, probably snow, hail, freezing rain, gusting wind, etc., but I AM excited to get back out watching Blue Water Area athletes achieve amazing things. It’s time for the 2025 BOYS Outdoor Track and Field Season Preview.  Over the last few months, I’ve been looking at results from last year’s season to compile the predictions and probable performances for this year’s season.  The statistics used to write the season preview include BWAC, MAC, and Catholic High School League results, Blue Water Area meets such as the Marysville Invitational, Muskrat Invitational, Blue Water Meet of Champions, Thumb Meet, and Macomb County Meet, and of course Regional and State Finals qualifying and placements.A couple of notes about the process: Consistency was king: when looking at so many performances across a months-long time frame, there had to be consistent participation and placement throughout the season to get a feel for the performance or improvement potential. I didn’t include incoming freshmen (last year’s 8th graders) as sometimes they end up participating in a different spring sport or they don’t come out for track in high school.  I didn’t factor in the majority of PRs from any meets last year that were hand-timed for the preview, nor will I use them for top times and marks lists this season.  When you see PRs for everyone across the board by huge margins, especially in sprint events, that’s a sign that the times are usually inaccurate. With the requirement of FAT timing for state meet qualification, it’s a more reliable standard.Early qualifying marks add a new dynamic to reporting on racing for this year: athletes can now meet a state-meet qualifying mark earlier than regionals, which will likely change the landscape of Michigan track and field.  An EQ is defined by the MHSAA as “an athlete who achieves the mark in any round of a valid pre-qualified event which meets the proper standards (FAT TIMED and 6+ teams) is qualified to participate in the LP finals in that event”.  Finally, I will miss someone who deserves a nod or mention: with such a large amount of data across a long period, it is inevitable.  I cross-check and reference and scour athletic.net repeatedly, but Blue Water Running is just me, I work a full-time job during the day (which includes wrangling some kindergartners) and I do this for free, so sometimes, things get missed. I’m human.  Also, my apologies if I mispronounce or misspell your name or incorrectly type a time or mark.I can’t wait to get back out there and see all of you running, jumping, and throwing.  You can find results and articles on bluewaterrunning.org and our social media sites throughout the season.   You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. You can also check out photo albums of meets that will be linked through the website and download and share them to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Hello and welcome to The Blue Water Running Podcast!  I’m excited about sunshine and warm breezes…ok, probably snow, hail, freezing rain, gusting wind, etc., but I AM excited to get back out watching Blue Water Area athletes achieve amazing things. It’s time for the 2025 GIRLS Outdoor Track and Field Season Preview.  Over the last few months, I’ve been looking at results from last year’s season to compile the predictions and probable performances for this year’s season.  The statistics used to write the season preview include BWAC, MAC, and Catholic High School League results, Blue Water Area meets such as the Marysville Invitational, Muskrat Invitational, Blue Water Meet of Champions, Thumb Meet, and Macomb County Meet, and of course Regional and State Finals qualifying and placements.A couple of notes about the process: Consistency was king: when looking at so many performances across a months-long time frame, there had to be consistent participation and placement throughout the season to get a feel for the performance or improvement potential. I didn’t include incoming freshmen (last year’s 8th graders) as sometimes they end up participating in a different spring sport or they don’t come out for track in high school.  I didn’t factor in the majority of PRs from any meets last year that were hand-timed for the preview, nor will I use them for top times and marks lists this season.  When you see PRs for everyone across the board by huge margins, especially in sprint events, that’s a sign that the times are usually inaccurate. With the requirement of FAT timing for state meet qualification, it’s a more reliable standard.Early qualifying marks add a new dynamic to reporting on racing for this year: athletes can now meet a state-meet qualifying mark earlier than regionals, which will likely change the landscape of Michigan track and field.  An EQ is defined by the MHSAA as “an athlete who achieves the mark in any round of a valid pre-qualified event which meets the proper standards (FAT TIMED and 6+ teams) is qualified to participate in the LP finals in that event”.  Finally, I will miss someone who deserves a nod or mention: with such a large amount of data across a long period, it is inevitable.  I cross-check and reference and scour athletic.net repeatedly, but Blue Water Running is just me, I work a full-time job during the day (which includes wrangling some kindergartners) and do this for free, so sometimes, things get missed. I’m human.  Also, my apologies if I mispronounce or misspell your name or incorrectly type a time or mark.I can’t wait to get back out there and see all of you running, jumping, and throwing.  You can find results and articles on bluewaterrunning.org and our social media sites throughout the season.   You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. You can also check out photo albums of meets that will be linked through the website and download and share them to help spread the word about Blue Water Running’s mission, which is to feature and celebrate the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from our area.  Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

“You got a dream, you gotta protect it." The Pursuit of HappynessToday’s guest is Kieran Whitlam, a senior at Macomb Lutheran North High School and a member of the Inversion Vault Club.  Kieran has seen phenomenal growth and success in the pole vault during his career, with his first jumps as a freshman in the mid-8 to 9-foot range moving into the 12s and 13s as a junior outdoors in 2024.  Kieran was undefeated his entire junior outdoor season until the state meet, winning the Catholic High School League Championship, the D2-Region 19 Championship, and the Macomb County Championship title (regardless of division), and finished off the fall of 2024 with a 14-footer at the Vault Barn’s Halloween vault. His 2025 indoor season has continued on the same trajectory, with a 14-foot vault to win the LAB Indoor Meet #10 on February 15.  Currently ranked third indoors in the state of Michigan, Keiran is a contender for an MITS championship podium finish.  Pole Vault is always named by many Blue Water Area athletes and podcast guests as either their favorite field event to watch or one they’ve always wanted to try, so it’s always fun and informative to talk with a vaulter on the pod.  Kieran is passionate and dedicated to the craft and sport of vaulting, so he has a lot of great advice and insight to offer during our conversation.The Blue Water Running Podcast features and celebrates the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from the Blue Water Area of Michigan. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.  You can also find meet and athlete reports and articles and a recently added merchandise shop at www.bluewaterrunning.org.  We are always looking for sponsors and advertisers to partner in our mission to support local coverage of cross country and track and field. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

On the Michigan high school running stage, there was no bigger star in 2024 than Romeo’s girls' team.   Coming off of a 2023 state title, the Bulldogs entered 2024 with big goals and high expectations.  They won the Jackson Invitational, the Portage Invitational, and the Holly-Duane Raffin Festival of Races with their top five runners in the top ten places; these are all some of the most competitive invitationals in the state.  They won the MAC RED Championships, the Macomb County Championships, and their regional with a perfect score of 15, taking first through seventh place in all these meets.  They won the D1 state meet by 82 points, with their top six all earning all-state honors, taking 6th, 11th, 17th, 20th, 22nd, and 30th, with their seventh runner in 38th. The team then competed at Nike Cross Nationals, taking sixth overall in the country.  Romeo had three athletes in the 17s most of the season and had an average team spread of around 30 seconds between their top five: if you spread it out over their top seven varsity runners, it was still less than a minute.  They would have beaten quite a few when matched up against local boys’ teams.  Romeo has a long history of producing one of the best programs in D1 for both boys and girls, with continuous streaks of league, county, and regional championships over many years. Their boys’ team also dominated local competition for quite some time and produced many of the state’s top runners.  On this episode, we will chat with head coach Mike Buslepp, or “Bus” as he’s affectionately known to his athletes, and pick the brain of the man at the helm of the cross country powerhouse that is Romeo.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

In April 2022, The Macomb Community College athletics department hired Matt Fecht as the head men’s and women’s cross country coach.  Fecht came from Wayne State University, where he was the assistant coach, and is an accomplished runner.  He was a 2002 All-American at MCC and his team placed in the top-10 at the NJCAA championships.  He went on to run for Wayne State after competing for MCC. He was a three-time national championship qualifier and an NCAA Division II All-American in 2005, taking 30th place. His 8K and 10K cross country PRs stand at 25:34 and 31:50, respectively.  After college, he ran as a sponsored professional runner, qualifying for the Olympic Marathon Trials in 2012, 2016, and 2020, with a marathon PR of 2:17 and a half marathon PR of 1:06.  For the high school runners listening, he ran at Warren Mott, where he currently teaches and coaches, and set the school record at that time during his senior year in 16:12.  While at MCC, Fecht has led the program to new successes.  For the first time since 1996, the men’s program won the MCCAA Eastern Conference Championship this past fall, along with a second-place finish at the Region 12 championships, to qualify them for the national meet, where they finished in the top ten teams. The women’s team qualified two individuals to the national meet and Ava LaMilza was the MCCAA Eastern Conference Runner of the Year.As posted on the MCC athletics website, Fecht had this to say about his position: “Having started my career here, coaching at Macomb is sort of like a homecoming for me,” Fecht continued. “While at Macomb, I was able to grow and have success at the national level and ultimately transfer on scholarship to a four-year institution. Had it not been for the opportunity I was afforded at Macomb, I don’t think I would have gone on to have the success I was able to have in both my collegiate career, as well as my professional running career. It will be my goal to provide future Monarchs the same opportunities I was afforded, both in the classroom and on the course.”In this episode, Matt will give us insight into the growth and vision of the program, the benefits of running for a community college team, and what experiences students can expect as an MCC athlete in the cross country or track program.I’ll leave you with a quote by the late great Steve Prefontaine, who would have celebrated his 74th birthday on January 25, “To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.”Once again, thank you so much for tuning into today’s Blue Water Running podcast.  If you missed any of our episodes this year, be sure to check them out on the website at (www.bluewaterrunning.org), or by searching for The Blue Water Running Podcast on your favorite podcasting app. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please share, subscribe, and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.   If you’d like to partner with Blue Water Running to sponsor our work and advertise your business, please reach out via the website or social media links. Sponsorship options offer a range of benefits, including podcast and website ads, social media shoutouts, and more.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

On this episode, our guest is Lily Lemanski, a 2024 graduate of Marlette High School.  On the track, Lily has tried almost every event, from the 4x100 at the state meet to consistent seasons of long jump and high jump.  In both her junior and senior years, Lily was a GTL East Conference champion between the mile with a PR of 5:48 and the 800. A regional runner-up in the 800 both years, her highest finish was 13th at the D4 state meet in 2:30.  She didn’t run cross country until her junior year and ended her season with a 20:29 PR.  By her senior year, she was regional runner-up and D4 All-State, taking 21st in 19:41.  This past fall as a freshman at SC4, Lily set the school record in 19:40.  The women’s team was first at the highly competitive MSU Spartan Invite. Second in their conference, three individuals qualified for the national meet, and in 2023 they were eleventh overall as a team at nationals.  Lily took 44th in 20:03 at the NJCAA D2 XC Championships.  Just this winter, SC4 launched its inaugural track and field season, allowing local athletes to continue their field event or sprint careers as Skippers. Lily will chat with us about her high school career, competing for a community college team, her experiences as an SC4 athlete in the cross country program, and her current and future goals for running.Once again, thank you so much for tuning into today’s Blue Water Running podcast. I can’t wait to feature more cross country and track and field athletes from the Blue Water Area…stay tuned because it might just be YOU!  If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please share, subscribe, and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  If you have an idea for a great topic or guest you’d like to hear about, feel free to contact me through the website links or show notes.  Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Winter is upon us, and if you aren’t participating in another sport, perhaps you are honing your track and field skills indoors.  The Michigan Indoor Track and Field Series kicked off at Grand Valley State University with two meets on Dec. 7 and the weekend of Dec. 13/14.  There was another west-side competition at Aquinas and an east-side meet at the Lincoln Athletic Building (known as the LAB facility) on the 14th.  There were two more meets at the LAB before Christmas, a pole vault event at the Vault Barn, and since the new year GVSU hosted again, there have been two more meets at the LAB, and this past Saturday, Jan. 11, the first Saginaw Valley University MITS meet took place, along with a meet at Hillsdale College.  In this episode, I’ll aggregate results from the high school indoor meets thus far into one report and sum up the results from Dec. 14, 2024, to Jan. 12, 2025.  Reporting on indoor track and field is quite tricky from a logistical standpoint: there are no school names allowed to be listed, athletes must run unattached or under a club name, and they can’t wear a high school jersey.  Relays are a challenge since athletes are running with people who don’t even go to their school (sidenote: it’s a cool thing to see athletes from different schools teaming up).  Therefore, it’s inevitable that I will miss someone’s name. In a perfect world, the MHSAA would just let indoor track be an official school sport, but until that day, I’ll be continuously cross-checking names against Athletic.net and doing my best.  If you email or message me and let me know, I’ll be sure to add it to the results article on the website. Pictures are always welcome too, as I’m not able to get to as many meets as I’d like to because - believe it or not - my children, while all cross country and track runners, never competed in high school indoor track.  They played basketball instead, so I’m courtside instead of trackside most of the winter.  So, hang on for the highlights, forgive me if I mispronounce your name or missed your results, and I always appreciate your support of the site and your willingness to share your accomplishments with Blue Water Running!  If you missed any of our podcast episodes this year, be sure to check them out on the website at (www.bluewaterrunning.org), or by searching for The Blue Water Running Podcast on your favorite podcasting app.  Don't forget to follow Blue Water Running on social media to stay up-to-date on all the latest news and updates from local track and field and cross country in the Blue Water Area on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.  If you’d like to partner with Blue Water Running to advertise your business and promote local runners, please reach out via the website or social media links!https://forms.gle/s4GD7qwWMA5RPBsKSend Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Top Blue Water Running Moments of 2024Welcome to the final stretch of 2024!  As we finish another incredible year of local athletics, I’d like to take a moment to look back on the highlights and achievements of the Blue Water Area and how local athletes have shown us what it means to push limits, break barriers, and strive for greatness.  I'm your host, Meran, and this is episode #33 of The Blue Water Running Podcast. In this special year-end episode, we'll spotlight the standout performances, record-breaking moments, and inspiring stories from cross country and track and field in our community this year. So, lace up your shoes, prepare to sprint into the new year, and join me as we celebrate the best of Blue Water Running from 2024. As we head into the new year, I’m so excited to see what's in store for our local athletes. Keep dreaming, keep working, and I will see you out there soon. Here’s a quote from Amby Burfoot, the Boston Marathon winner in 1968 and the editor-in-chief of Runner’s World for many years.  “Running has taught me, perhaps more than anything else, that there's no reason to fear starting lines... or any other new beginnings”.I want to thank everyone who has supported Blue Water Running this year.  It’s been a true honor and privilege to get to know you and be able to showcase your accomplishments to the community and beyond.  Thanks again to our listeners for tuning in.   If you missed any of our episodes this year, be sure to check them out on the website at (www.bluewaterrunning.org), or by searching for The Blue Water Running Podcast on your favorite podcasting app.  Don't forget to follow Blue Water Running on social media to stay up-to-date on all the latest news and updates from local track and field and cross country in the Blue Water Area on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube.  If you’d like to partner with Blue Water Running to advertise your business and promote local runners, please reach out via the website or social media links!I wish you a happy and healthy 2025.  Work hard, set big goals, and believe that this new year is another opportunity to chase your dreams.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

We have a BOGO special for this week's podcast: on episode #31 is Andrea Rheaume, who serves as the head women’s cross country and track coach for St. Clair Community College, known as SC4, then on episode #32 Coach Max Whittredge will focus on the men’s program. With Andrea and Max at the helm, the Skippers have seen incredible success and growth in their program over the last several years.  The women’s team was first at the highly competitive MSU Spartan Invite and second in their conference, sending three individuals to the national meet, and in 2023 they were eleventh overall as a team at nationals. The men’s team placed in the top ten at the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) DII Men's Cross Country Championship in 2022, making school history.  This year, they were second in the junior college division at the Spartan Invitational, second in their conference, and twelfth in the nation.  Both programs saw school records set in the last two seasons, with the men’s record set last year at 25:35 by Glen Davis (PHN), who was named the Michigan Community College Athletic Association’s (MCCAA) Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week twice, and also awarded the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Athlete Award of the Week - the first athlete from St. Clair County to do so for cross country.  The women’s cross country record was set this year by Lily Lemanski (Marlette) at 19:40.  In the spring, SC4 will launch its inaugural season of track and field, giving local athletes the chance to also continue their field event or sprint careers as a Skipper. Both coaches will give us some insight into the growth and vision of the programs, the benefits of running for a community college team, and what experiences students can expect as an SC4 athlete in the cross country or track program.Thank you so much for tuning into today’s Blue Water Running podcast. I can’t wait to feature more cross country and track and field athletes from the Blue Water Area…stay tuned because it might just be YOU!  If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please share, subscribe, and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

Hello and welcome to The Blue Water Running Podcast!  I’m your host, Meran, and this podcast features and celebrates the achievements of high school and collegiate cross country and track/field athletes from the Blue Water Area of Michigan. You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.  You can also find meet and athlete reports/articles and a recently added merchandise shop at www.bluewaterrunning.org.We have a BOGO special for this week's podcast: on episode #31 is Andrea Rheaume, who serves as the head women’s cross country and track coach for St. Clair Community College, known as SC4, then on episode #32 Coach Max Whittredge will focus on the men’s program. With Andrea and Max at the helm, the Skippers have seen incredible success and growth in their program over the last several years.  The women’s team was first at the highly competitive MSU Spartan Invite and second in their conference, sending three individuals to the national meet, and in 2023 they were eleventh overall as a team at nationals. The men’s team placed in the top ten at the National Junior College Athletic Association’s (NJCAA) DII Men's Cross Country Championship in 2022, making school history.  This year, they were second in the junior college division at the Spartan Invitational, second in their conference, and twelfth in the nation.  Both programs saw school records set in the last two seasons, with the men’s record set last year at 25:35 by Glen Davis (PHN), who was named the Michigan Community College Athletic Association’s (MCCAA) Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week twice, and also awarded the U.S. Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Athlete Award of the Week - the first athlete from St. Clair County to do so for cross country.  The women’s cross country record was set this year by Lily Lemanski (Marlette) at 19:40.  In the spring, SC4 will launch its inaugural season of track and field, giving local athletes the chance to also continue their field event or sprint careers as a Skipper. Both coaches will give us some insight into the growth and vision of the programs, the benefits of running for a community college team, and what experiences students can expect as an SC4 athlete in the cross country or track program.Thank you so much for tuning into today’s Blue Water Running podcast. I can’t wait to feature more cross country and track and field athletes from the Blue Water Area…stay tuned because it might just be YOU!  If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please share, subscribe, and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast. Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

“I’m not defined by any particular result I could ever achieve, but more so am proud of the work I put in and the attitude that I had going in trying to achieve those goals, and whether or not I was able to bring people along the way to help them as I go up as well.  That’s a universal lesson and probably the greatest lesson running has given me.”Hello and welcome to episode #30 of The Blue Water Running Podcast!  On November 23, the Division 2 cross country national meet was held at Haggin Oaks Golf Complex in Sacramento, California.  Saginaw Valley State University’s men’s cross country team earned an at-large bid to compete and finished 17th, one of SVSU’s highest finishes at this event.  Noah Verlinde, a senior, finished the race as the sixth man for the Cardinals in his 10K personal best of 32:41.  A 2020 graduate of Armada High School and former Blue Water Area Conference athlete, he won two of the three BWAC cross country jamborees his senior year, qualified for the Division 2 MHSAA state finals all four years of his high school career, and narrowly missed all-state as a 12th grader, finishing 32nd.  Noah has 5K PRs of 16:22 for high school and 14:31 collegiately, and an 8K PR of 25:08.  He joins us on this episode to talk about his first trip to D2 Nationals, his experiences during collegiate training and racing, and other insights about the sport, its challenges, and how to keep a good perspective on balancing life as a runner.  Definitely stay for the whole conversation, as Noah has a lot of great advice to share.“Everything worth doing is hard. The more worth doing it is, the harder it is. The greater the payoff the greater the hardship. If it’s hard, good.” - Alex HarmoziOnce again, thank you so much for tuning into today’s Blue Water Running podcast.  If you enjoyed today’s episode, please share, subscribe, and leave a review.  The Blue Water Running Podcast is on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  If you have an idea for a great topic or guest you’d like to hear about, feel free to contact me through the website links or show notes.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.  You can also find meet and athlete reports and articles at www.bluewaterrunning.org.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

When the cross country season ends, many athletes feel excitement, pride, satisfaction, confidence, or a sense of accomplishment.  For many others, though, the reality is not so positive: they might feel disappointment, inadequacy, relief that they are done racing, or sadly even a sense of failure.  Perhaps their season didn’t live up to their expectations: they couldn’t run due to an injury or illness, they didn’t get faster, they didn’t run what they had previously in their career, they didn’t get that PR, they didn’t get all-league, region, all-state, etc.  Whatever they were chasing didn’t happen.  I can speak from personal experience that the end of the season is NOT always a celebration for many athletes; in fact, many leave with unmet expectations, unrealized goals and dreams, and might even feel full of regret.  It seems to be an unspoken rule that you should get faster and always see continual and linear progression, but that is not always realistic.I started Blue Water Running to focus on the incredible athletes we have in our area.  Fast times, improvements, and accomplishments make great stories, articles, and podcasts, and those elements are exciting and noteworthy. It’s admirable and understandable to strive toward goals, but let’s take a moment here to recognize that all of those achievements I mentioned aren’t necessarily requirements for a successful and fulfilling running career. You don’t have to have your life and identity defined and dictated by your successes and failures, especially in running.  Believe me: I’ve lived that frustration, hopelessness, and discouragement.  The Blue Water Running podcast has allowed me to feature many different versions of athletes’ success stories, but on this episode, I’m sharing my story in the hope that if there’s someone stuck in a rut, an injury cycle, a performance plateau, a season of discouragement; whatever it is, it will help them hold on for a breakthrough. This episode is all about encouraging you to keep going.  Keep working, keep dreaming, keep hoping, and most of all, believe that you aren’t done yet.  There’s a whole new beginning just waiting.You never know what you could become, so get out there and chase those dreams.  Ecclesiastes 9:11 says, "I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn't always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn't always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don't always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time…Time and chance happen to them all.”Give yourself time, and give yourself a chance.I’m always rooting for you.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

This episode features the Wessel sisters, Alannah and Faith, who run for the Macomb Athletic Club for Homeschoolers (MACH).  Alannah is a freshman and Faith is a sophomore and both have had a very successful and consistent cross country season thus far in 2024.  Alannah claimed five invitational wins this fall with a PR of 19:07 and was the only freshman to earn All-County honors at the Macomb County Championships.  She also has a mile indoor personal best of 5:36 as an eighth-grader. Faith has dropped almost a minute off her season’s best from 2023, running a PR of 20:09 and finishing right behind her sister for runner-up honors at the Dakota Carnival of Races.  Both girls have a unique perspective on training and racing, as their schedules are individualized: they are not constrained by the hours of a typical school day.  Since they do not compete for a public or private school team with a school coach under the MHSAA governing body, they are not eligible to compete at regionals or the state finals.  We will chat with Alannah and Faith, hear about what learning and training look like from their perspectives, and learn some new things about both girls as athletes and people.  Once again, thank you so much for tuning into today’s Blue Water Running podcast. I can’t wait to feature more cross country and track and field athletes from the Blue Water Area…stay tuned because it might just be YOU!  Blue Water Running is sponsored in part by Elite Feet of Port Huron.  If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and they are big fans of running, too.  They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.  If you are interested in sponsoring coverage or partnering with Blue Water Running as an advertiser to reach and support local runners, please reach out via our website, show notes, or social media channels. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please share, subscribe, and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  If you have an idea for a great topic or guest you’d like to hear about, feel free to reach out through the website links or show notes.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.  You can also find meet and athlete reports and articles at www.bluewaterrunning.org.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

This episode features cross country sophomore Samantha Whitlam of Macomb Lutheran North.  Sam recently broke her record in a big way at the Macomb County Championships, running her first sub-20 5K in 19:46 to finish 17th to earn All-County honors while leading her team to a D2/3/4 small team championship trophy.  She has made steady improvement all season and did the same in track last spring, finishing second at regionals in the 800 and competing at the state meet, running a 2:21. She also has a best of 5:36 in the 1600.  She’s currently ranked second in Region 17, and Lutheran North is in a close statistical match-up for the team title with St. Clair, with the two teams separated by 3 hypothetical points. We will chat with Samantha about her season, goals, and training, and get to know her personally as an athlete.  As her favorite quote says, "How bad do you want it?"Once again, thank you so much for tuning into today’s Blue Water Running podcast. I can’t wait to feature more cross country and track and field athletes from the Blue Water Area…stay tuned because it might just be YOU!  Coverage on Blue Water Running is sponsored by Elite Feet of Port Huron.  If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and they are big fans of running, too.  They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.  If you are interested in sponsoring coverage or partnering with Blue Water Running as an advertiser to reach and support local runners, please reach out via our website, show notes, or social media channels. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please share, subscribe, and leave a review.  The Blue Water Running Podcast is on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  If you have an idea for a great topic or guest you’d like to hear about, feel free to contact me through the website links or show notes.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.  You can also find meet and athlete reports and articles at www.bluewaterrunning.org.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning

This episode features sophomore Josh Macri of Macomb Lutheran North. Josh has been tearing up the grass this season and has made significant time improvements.  He came into the 2024 cross country season with a personal best of 17:49 from his freshman season last year.  He began this year with a statement, finishing second at the Lamplighter Invite in 16:32, and has since dropped his PR to 16:12.  He won several invitationals, including The Lake St. Clair Earlybird Invitational, the Algonac Muskrat Classic, the Autumn Classic Invite, the Dakota Carnival of Races, and the Catholic High School League Jamboree, and has been runner-up at quite a few more. He was recently named to the Macomb All-County team for his seventh-place finish at the county championships in 16:29, leading his team to the small-school D2/3/4 division trophy.  To put Josh’s improvement into perspective, he finished 74th there in 18:37 last year.  He is currently ranked first in D2 Region 17 by a solid 45 seconds.  To top off the incredible season he’s having, he also plays soccer in addition to running cross country.We will chat with Josh about his season so far, the challenges of dual-sporting, his factors for success and goals moving forward, and get to know him personally as an athlete.  Take Josh's dad's advice: "Play YOUR game." Once again, thank you so much for tuning into today’s Blue Water Running podcast. I can’t wait to feature more cross country and track and field athletes from the Blue Water Area…stay tuned because it might just be YOU!  Coverage on Blue Water Running is sponsored by Elite Feet of Port Huron.  If you need running shoes, spikes, or apparel, they have a friendly and knowledgeable staff to help you find the right fit and they are big fans of running, too.  They are located at 327 Huron Ave in downtown Port Huron.  If you are interested in sponsoring coverage or partnering with Blue Water Running as an advertiser to reach and support local runners, please reach out via our website, show notes, or social media channels. If you enjoyed today’s podcast, please share, subscribe, and leave a review.  You can find The Blue Water Running Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and other major media players.  You can also ask Alexa to play The Blue Water Running Podcast.  If you have an idea for a great topic or guest you’d like to hear about, feel free to contact me through the website links or show notes.  You can follow Blue Water Running on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.  You can also find meet and athlete reports and articles at www.bluewaterrunning.org.Send Blue Water Running a MessageSupport the showhttps://www.bluewaterrunning.org/https://bluewaterrunning.buzzsprout.comInstagram and X @bluewaterrunFacebook/TikTok/Youtube @BlueWaterRunning