Brandon and Goodrich’s varsity girls cross country teams both had reasons to hold their heads high after the Brandon Invitational Friday, Sept. 29.
Led by senior Kelsey Meyers? sixth-place performance, the Martians won the girls? division of the invitational with 51 points, defeating Rochester Hills Stoney Creek, which had 63 points.
Meanwhile, the Blackhawks placed third in the girls? division with 76 points, and senior Kelsey Carmean continued her string of first-place finishes this season, winning the race in 20:19.
Brandon coach Janelle Gutzeit said Carmean’s time was 40 seconds faster than the previous year’s invite.
‘Her talent is starting to show this year,? Gutzeit said. ‘She’s worked hard all season long.?
In addition to Meyers, the Martians placed four other runners in the top 25, including two in the top 10, while the Blackhawks placed three other competitors in the top 25.
Meyers finished the race in 20:57, while Kelsey Krych finished a couple spots behind Meyers, placing eighth in 21:16.4. Sunney Mahalak finished 10th in 21:37.2, while Jenni Brothers finished 12th (22:01.7) and Chelsea Balanger 15th (22:16.2).
Hannah Scherer was the next Brandon girls runner after Carmean to finish the race, placing 11th in 21:58.6. Jamie Hendershott (17th, 22:21.9) and Sarah Eldon (21st, 22:29.9) were the other Brandon runners to place in the top 25, while Andrea Newcombe just missed out on that distinction, placing 26th in 22:46.2.
In the boys? division, Brandon’s Steve Sanday finished ninth among all competitors with a time of 18:17, as Brandon finished sixth out of nine teams at the invite with 164 points. Nicola Grupido was the other Brandon runner in the top 25, finishing 14th at 18:39.2.
The Goodrich boys placed ninth with 271 points, with Kirk Britton’s time of 21:02 leading the Martians.