When I was a kid, I kept track of baseball statistics such as ERAs, batting averages and hits for my favorite St. Louis Cardinal players.

Fast forward to another time, another state, where I found myself keeping track of stats and people involved in a different sport: distance running. I memorized world and U.S. marathon records, Billy Mills's winning 10K time at the 1964 Olympics (28:24.4) and so on.

I suspect Dave Foley took notice of this habit when he recommended that I take over as editor of Michigan Runner in spring 1999. I still enjoy compiling the top 1,000-plus times for our Best of Times feature every year.

When I look back over those two-and-two-third years that I served as editor, I think of numbers and stories they represent:

13:44.7 - Dathan Ritzenhein's 5000-meter time at the 2001 U.S. Nationals, less than a second shy of Gerry Lindgren's 13:44 high-school record set in 1964. Ritz's 13:27.77 in 2002 was the best-ever 5000 time by a college freshman.

The story of this Rockford, Mich., native involves more than records. It's about bringing excitement to our sport, inspiring a new generation of high-school and college runners.

Dathan inspired us, as well, to create the Michigan High School Runner of the Year award. He was its first recipient; Tim Moore followed in 2002, and Amber Smith in 2003. We continue to pay attention to high-school and college runners. They will be the ones claiming road-race trophies in years to come.

2 - Hanson brothers, Keith and Kevin, began a Distance Project we chronicled in July/August 2001. While others whined about the sorry state of American distance running, Keith and Kevin did something about it. They continue to be the model for developing post-collegiate runners. In 2003 they partnered with Brooks to launch their women's program.

22 - "We've got the bridge ... We've been waiting 22 years for this!" exulted Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Bank Marathon officials in our July/August 1999 edition. Adding the Ambassador Bridge to the course marked a milestone for Doug Kurtis, Pat Ball and others who have brought many positive changes to this race.

3 - Paul Aufdemberge won his record third Michigan Runner of the Year award, we reported in March/April 2001. In addition to 2000, Paul also won in 1996 and 1999. He's still fast -- last October, at age 38, Paul qualified for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials.

7 - Distances at which Gerard Malaczynski placed among the top three in his age group, according to our 1999 Best of Times.

See you at the races,

Jennie McCafferty