By David Fleet
dfleet@mihomepaper.com
Union-Sebewing —  On Aug. 19, the Goodrich Boys and Girls Varsity Cross Country teams opened the 2024 with a win at the Union-Sebewing at the USA XC Invitational.
“It was a cool and windy day at Sebewaing High School on a flat course with many twists and turns as well as long stretches on open ground,” said XC Head Coach Al Warden.
Nine boys teams towed the line at 5:30 pm and it was apparent from the gun that winning would be difficult. Brook Kang from Harbor Beach led the race from start to finish. The Goodrich boys placed 2,5,7,9,10 resulting in a first-place total of 33 points while the second-place team finished with 79 points.
GHS Junior Vincent Pattison second overall 17:47; GHS Senior Cole Winter fifth 18:45; GHS Senior Trevor Gutteridge seventh 19:05 just 15 seconds off his career best.
“This was a nice way to start the season with two runners currently injured and did not compete,” added Warden.
There were eight teams in the girls race which began shortly after 6:10 p.m. The weather had not changed much, however the wind may have died down a little.
“Our girls had finished third at the state meet in 2023 and all seven from the 2023 state meet were available for this race as well as some who had not raced in the 2023 state meet race,” he said.
The Martian girls did not disappoint finishing one through seven with a score of 15 while the second place Harbor Beach girls finished with 80 points. The first to fifth gap was an outstanding 48 seconds. Senior Kamryn Lauinger led almost the entire race and finished first with a time of 19:52; second GHS Senior Layla Jordan 20:15. Jordan now holds the Goodrich 400-meter and 800-meter school record as well as being the 800 meter Division 2 state winner with a time of 2:09.92 and a new state record. Third GHS Sophomore Alivia Ottinger 20:26, fourth GHS Sophomore Claire Brown 20:31; fifth GHS Senior Avery Byrne 20:40.