By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
(October 21, 2023 7:33 AM ET) While others were talking about the race or winding down following the Cascades Conference cross country final at Ella Sharp Park last Wednesday, runner Michael Allen was quietly getting a simple job done.
The senior was collecting clothes strewn near the starting line by East Jackson High School runners just before the start of the race.
Allen was slowly and quietly placing the sweatpants and tops into a large container before returning to their rightful owners at the East Jackson team tent.
Just 20 minutes prior to that the soft-spoken runner was winning the conference title in cross country with a time of 16 minutes, 40 seconds ahead of Hanover-Horton and Jonesville runners.
An East Jackson Community Schools website noted that Allen was the first EJHS runner to win the conference final for the Trojans since the 1970s.
Allen just wanted to go out and win.
“I just wanted to stay relaxed and not go out too fast,” Allen said of the race.
He was in a bunch of approximately eight runners at the mile mark and pulled ahead in the second mile.
“I just wanted to go for the win,” Allen said. “I knew I had a good chance of winning because I came in here with the fastest time this season.”
Allen has made it a point to win numerous races this season. The senior has wins at the Concord, Springport, Leslie, and Hudson invitationals in the fall cross country season.
The senior credits his summer training and training partner Javin Mericle for some of his success.
“I increased my summer training to above 30 miles a week this year,” Allen said. “It is nice to have someone (Mericle) who can run the distances with you.”
Allen has been running the sport since seventh grade and enjoys the longer distances.
“I think it is better than track,” Allen said.
With a season-best 16:04 at Stockbridge, Allen is nearing a goal of breaking the 16-minute mark and running cross country in college.
“I am trying to go to a Division 1 or Division 2 college,” Allen said. “I think I need to get into the 15s for a chance.”
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