Jets cross country runner commits to sign with Michigan

MADISON – The University of Michigan Wolverines cross country team will soon receive a gift of talent. The gift will arrive in the form of a highly proficient athlete who chose the Wolverines over a collection of top-notch colleges from across the country.

Luke Alverson of James Clemens has verbally committed to Michigan after months of consideration all awhile being ranked No. 10 nationally after posting a personal best time of 14:49.25, which is the best time posted in Alabama this year. He will sign with the Wolverines in November.

“Both of my grandparents graduated from Michigan with engineering degrees and the school has one of the top mechanical engineering programs in the country, so those facts led me to make the choice to join the Big 10 Conference school,” said Alverson. “My parents and I sat down and discussed all the pros and cons of my choice and made sure my grandparents’ history did not influence me too much, but Michigan has a tremendous cross country program and I believe all of the input made for an offer I couldn’t refuse.”

The 6-foot, 155-pound Alverson selected the blue and gold Wolverines over other elite schools including Duke and UCLA. His decision was a difficult one, but it did not happen hastily. The process occurred over several months and Alverson also took into account the academic portion of the move to college once he graduates from James Clemens.

Alverson currently has a 5.19 grade point average, which ranks him No. 12 among his 2025 senior class.

“Michigan’s cross country team is currently ranked No. 14 and the school’s entire track program is among the best in the Big 10,” added Alverson. “There is a marvelous indoor track facility on campus and I know the school invests a lot of money in athletics. The school focuses on their athletes.”

For Alverson who grew up here in the South, his choice to leave “SEC country” for the “Big 10 area” was one that didn’t come easily, but he feels he made the correct choice for his full scholarship offer. He added, “I didn’t want to be contained in the South all my life. I have seen all 50 states during my lifetime and I wanted something different.”

The current 2024 cross country season will conclude with the State Meet Nov. 9 in Moulton. “Yes, my training leading up the State Meet is where I am now and I hope to be able to finish strong in my final race at James Clemens,” said Alverson.