If the Aug. 28 Cavalier Classic is any indication, the Goodrich girls cross-country team will be a force to be reckoned with this season.
Kayla O’Mara, one-half of a pair of highly touted freshman competitors for the Martians, won the girls meet at the invite, held at Carmen-Ainsworth High School, with a time of 19:06.
As a team, the Martians finished second overall to Clarkston, 30-52, and won the Division II-III portion of the meet.
Two other Goodrich runners placed in the top ten at the invite: Janee Jones, who placed third with a time of 19:42, and Kaitlin O’Mara (Kayla’s sister) finished seventh with a time of 20:08.
Another Martian, Samantha Minkler, finished 11th (20:50).
Coach John Shaw said the team’s performance at the Cavalier Classic gives him reason for optimism heading into the Bath Invitational Saturday, Sept. 6. The Martians figure to meet some stiff competition at that meet, including Hillsdale (last year’s Division III state champions) and Williamston, who finished ahead of Goodrich last year and has all their runners back.
“We’ll see what happens Saturday,” he said.