Michigan's top girls distance recruit has been consistently dominant for much of the fall, and on Friday Ericka Vanderlende made her college decision known, pledging to the University of Michigan.
The Rockford (MI) High School senior and 2-time state Division I LP champion is a versatile prospect with the ability to go up or down in distance, though she's excelled in recent years in the 2-mile and 5K, winning her first state title in cross country a year ago while also qualifying for Foot Locker Nationals.
Vanderlende broke 18 minutes in the 5K nine times in 2017 and has done it three times in 2018, but her best effort came on September 29 at the Allendale Falcon Invitational when she authored a career best time of 16:55.90.
On the track, the senior has split 2:19.07 in the 800m, 4:45.17 in the 1600m and 10:05.01 in the 3200m. She also was one of four American girls to break 10 minutes in the 2-mile at Brooks PR last spring, finishing fifth in a loaded field.
Consistency has been one of Vanderlende's staples, too. She ran 4:50 or faster in the 1600m four times as a junior and 10:15 or faster in the 3200m three times.
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