By David Fleet
Editor
Shepard — One meet to go.
The 70 degree weather for Oct. 27, in the mid-Michigan Village of Shepard for the MHSAA Region 15 Cross Country Championship was rather unusual.
The results for the 2023 Goodrich Girls Cross Country were not this season.
Despite two-days of heavy rain the Shepard High School cross country course was in excellent condition as the Lady Martins continued to dominate by winning the Regional crown for Division 2 punching their ticket to the State Finals Nov. 4 at Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Mich. A total of 14 teams were vying for just three spots, Goodrich was joined by Frankenmuth and Freeland.
There were also 104 girls competing for 21 limited positions for the individual state finals. The Lady Martians will send seven runners including, meet winner GHS Jr. Kamyrn Lauinger (18:11 PR); GHS Jr. Layla Jordan (18:55) second for Goodrich and 4th overall; GHS Fr. Baylor Lauinger (19:16), third for Goodrich and eighth overall; GHS Fr. Claire Brown (19:40), 4th for Goodrich and 12th overall; GHS Jr. Avery Byrne (19:41) 5th for Goodrich and 13th overall; GHS Fr. Grace Mahaffy (20:39) sixth for Goodrich and 22nd overall and GHS Fr. Alivia Ottinger (20:47), seventh for Goodrich and 23rd overall.
“The team success is the result of 21 girls and 14 boys working together and trusting each other to improve each practice and each meet,” said Head Coach Al Warden. “They have competed against 137 schools this season and have only been outscored twice.”
The Goodrich Boys team finished 10th in a field of 15 teams and 106 runners. GHS Soph. Vincent Pattison (16:18 PR) first for Goodrich, 11th overall and state qualifier; GHS Jr. Cole Winter (17:53), second for Goodrich and 42nd overall; GHS Jr. Ryan Oberle, third for Goodrich and 62nd overall and GHS Jr. Trevor Gutteridge (18:50), fourth for Goodrich and 66th overall.