By David Fleet
Editor
Goodrich — The Goodrich Girls Varsity Cross country team continued to run with purpose, conviction and dominance on a cold, windy and wet Saturday Oct. 14 morning at the 16th Annual Kayla O’Mara Memorial Invitational at Goodrich Middle School.
With a perfect score of 15 points, the Lady Martians placed 10 of the top 11 runners in a field of 35.
Leading the Martians was GHS Junior Kamryn Lauinger (19:04) who won the event, followed by GHS Junior Layla Jordan (19:45), third GHS Freshman Baylor Lauinger (20:04), fourth GHS Freshmen Claire Brown (20:24), fifth Junior Avery Byrne (20:37), sixth GHS Freshmen Aliva Ottinger (20:43), seventh GHS Junior Natalie Steward (20:51) a season personal best, ninth GHS Freshmen Grace Mahaffy (21:20), 10th GHS Senior Alexis Waring (21:49) and 11th GHS Sophomore Isabella Dunn (22:30).
“A great effort by all,” said Coach Al Warden. “The times were tempered by the muddy and soaked course but the conditions did not impact their determination. I was privileged with the opportunity to present the medals to such a determined group of girls. After the applause by all, I walked back toward the DJ area and was asked “do you feel embarrassed” my response was “no just proud to be a part of this team.”
The Brandon Blackhawks Girls team finished third in the competition with 73 points, with BHS Junior Danielle St. James (22:58) 14th overall; BHS Junior Sadie Scribner (23:28) 16th overall and BHS Senior Peyton Nichols (23:49)18th overall.
In a field of 47 runners the Brandon High School Varsity Boys Cross Country team won with a score of 33, Goodrich finished second with 36. The race was won by GHS Junior Cole Winter (18:44); second, BHS Sophomore Jacob Hylton (19:09), fourth overall BHS Freshman Nathan Brinker (19:16) and fifth overall GHS Junior Ryan Oberle (19:22), seventh overall BHS Senior Josh Oswald, eighth overall GHS Junior Travis Steward (19:45), ninth overall BHS Sophomore Nick Grycza (19:45) and 10th overall GHS Junior Trevor Gutteridge (19:54).