It was the track and field equivalent of David vs. Goliath.
In this case, ‘David? — Goodrich High School’s girls track team — came well equipped to take on larger schools at the Wolverine Girls? Invitational March 30 at Eastern Michigan University.
The Martians, who compete in Division 3, went up against primarily Division 1 and 2 opponents at the invite, and did quite well for themselves, earning a couple of second-place finishes at the invite and setting several school records.
‘This team has to be considered one of the best in Division 3,? Goodrich coach John Shaw said of the team. ‘We held our own against some very good schools. Ypsilanti’s coach said he was really impressed with us.?
In the 3,200 meter relay, the Martians finished second to Livonia Stevenson, as the team of Kayla O’Mara, Samantha Minkler, Kelsey Meyers, and Janee Jones finished in a time of 9:59.86, breaking the record set last year by Jones, Michelle Elliott, Minkler, and Kristen Poulos.
Goodrich’s other second-place finish came in the 1,600 meter run, as Jones finished in a time of 5:12.1, shattering the record of 5:22.8 she set earlier this year.
‘That’s a very good time this early in the season,? Shaw said of Jones? performance.
The Martians set two other school marks at the invite. Jones ran the 800 meters in 2:20.61, breaking Minkler’s old record of 2:31.3, and the 1,600 meter relay team of Elliott, Minkler, O’Mara, and Jones finished in 4:27, breaking the old school mark of 4:28.2 set in 1990.
Other notable Goodrich performances came in the 800 relay, where the team of Elliott, Cassey Tubbs, Paige Plant, and Amber Beard finished in 1:39.25 (six-tenths of a second off the school record), and in the 60 meter hurdles, where Elliott earned a seventh-place finish with a time of 9.9.