H

undreds of cross 
country runners 
competed earlier this 
month in the Michigan High 
School Athletic Association 
state meet at Michigan 
International Speedway in 
Brooklyn.
None did what Merrick 
Michaelson did.
The Frankel Jewish 
Academy junior from 
Farmington Hills ran the 
challenging MIS course all by 
himself Friday, Nov. 5, one 
day before the actual meet 
Saturday, Nov. 6, because FJA 
student-athletes can’t compete 
on Shabbat.
That was an accommoda-

tion worked out between FJA 
and MHSAA officials.
Running solo is something 
that had never been done in 
the nearly 100-year history of 
the cross country state meet.
The novelty didn’t go unno-
ticed.
Runners from teams that 
were getting a workout on the 
course cheered Michaelson — 
even chanting his name — as 
word spread of what was hap-
pening.
They added to a cheering 
section that already included 
Michaelson family members, 
FJA officials and his coaches.
FJA Athletic Director Rick 
Dorn was in the lead vehi-

cle with a race official while 
Michaelson ran on the sunny 
afternoon with light winds.
“I thought Merrick was 
spectacular,” Dorn said.
FJA cross country coach 
Andy Picard agreed.
“Merrick did very well given 
the circumstances,” he said.
As for Michaelson, he said 
running by himself was diffi-
cult, and he didn’t get the time 
he wanted.
“But it was worth it,” he 
said.
Michaelson’s time of 
18:16.81 placed him 95th 
among 248 runners in the 
Division 4 boys race, although 
he was not listed on the 
MHSAA website as of last 
week.
Dorn said he’s trying to get 
that mistake corrected.
“I wanted to break 18 
minutes,” Michaelson said. 
“Perhaps I had too high expec-
tations.
“With nobody running 
in front of me, there was no 
one to pace myself with, and 
nobody to pass,” he said. 
“Everything was self-motiva-
tion.”
Picard said Michaelson’s 
biggest challenge running by 
himself was a lack of compe-
tition.
“Keeping up his race pace 
with nobody else to run with 
was hard,” he said. “Merrick 
feeds off having others there 
to race.
“
Also, MIS is a difficult 
course, especially the last mile 
(of the 3.1-mile course).”
Michaelson began running 
at 2 p.m. Nov. 5 so he wouldn’t 
miss too much school time 
that day, and get back home in 
time for Shabbat.
He qualified for the state 
meet while running as an indi-

vidual in a regional meet Oct. 
29 at Happy Acres Farm, a 
working farm in Webberville.
He ran a personal-best 
17:47.30 at the regional and 
finished ninth overall in the 
race. He was among the top 15 
runners who were not on state 
meet qualifying teams, which 
earned him a spot in the state 
meet.
FJA teammate Noam Goal 
also ran as an individual at 
the regional. He finished 39th 
overall in 19:58.52.
This was the second time 
Michaelson qualified for the 
state meet as an individual. He 
ran with Division 2 runners 
last year at MIS when the meet 
was split into two days because 
of COVID-19 restrictions.
He was clocked in 18:08.
He’s the first and only FJA 
cross country runner to quali-
fy for the state meet.
The school has had a cross 
country program for more 
than 10 years. This was 
Picard’s fourth year as coach.
Michaelson was an FJA boys 
cross country team captain 
this season even though he 
wasn’t a senior.
“Merrick has been a leader 
on the team through his per-
formance and attitude ever 
since he was a freshman,” 
Picard said. “He’s motivated, 
leads by example, always gives 
a maximum effort during 
practice and supports his 
teammates.
“It’s difficult to think of 
anyone who is more deserving 
than Merrick to be the first 
FJA cross country runner to 
compete in the state meet.”
Michaelson also plays bas-
ketball and baseball for FJA. 

Please send sports news to 

stevestein502004@yahoo.com.

SPORTS

RICK DORN

Frankel Jewish Academy cross 
country runner Merrick Michaelson 
runs alone at the state meet.

All By Himself

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

36 | NOVEMBER 25 • 2021 

Frankel Jewish Academy runner Merrick Michaelson finishes his 
solo journey on the cross country course at Michigan International 
Speedway at the state meet as he heads down the home stretch.

