The second time around wasn’t quite as surprising, yet it was just as rewarding for the Goodrich girls track team.
The Martians won their second straight Division 3 state championship in the state meet at Comstock Park June 4. They more than doubled the point total of their nearest opponent, finishing with 93 points to 44 for second-place Albion. Detroit Crockett was third with 31.
The score was far more lopsided than last year’s Division 3 meet, where the Martians edged Lansing Catholic Central 47-45 for the state crown.
‘This year, there was a lot of expectations by the girls and the community because we were so young,? Goodrich coach Brad Rainwater said. ‘It was a great surprise last year. This year going in, we know if we ran like we’re capable of, we had a good chance of contending for the state title.?
Meanwhile, the Martian boys team placed fifth in the Division 3 meet with 25 points. Frankenmuth won the meet with 51 points, while Detroit Country Day was second (47.5) and Albion third (45).
The Goodrich girls team took first place in four events, highlighted by their performance in the 1,600 meter run, where the Martians took four of the top eight places.
Leading the Martian pack was senior Janee Jones, who capped a stellar high school career by winning the 1,600 meters in 4:58.19. Jones also won the 800 meter run in 2:16.18.
Other Goodrich girls placing in the 1,600 meters were Kaitlin O’Mara (fourth, 5:15.10); Kayla O’Mara (fifth, 5:17.92); and Kelsey Meyers (seventh, 5:19.39).
The Martians also won the 3,200 meter relay, where the team of Mary Haiderer, Meyers, Kayla O’Mara and Kaitlin O’Mara won in 9:35.43, and the 300 meter low hurdles, where senior Michelle Elliott captured first with a time of 45.9.
Elliott also took second in the 100 meter hurdles (14.72), while the Martians? 1,600 meter relay team of Elliott, Jones, Kortni Elsworth and Christina Sweet also earned second (4:04.46).
Goodrich also placed three competitors in the 3,200 meter run: Kaitlin O’Mara (third, 11:34.88), Kayla O’Mara (fourth, 11:35.53), and Meyers (fifth, 11:40).
Other Goodrich girls placers were: Kortni Elsworth (third, long jump, 17?) and the 800 meter relay team of Casey Tubbs, Paige Plant, Christina Sweet, and Elsworth (fourth, 1:47.44).
Going into the meet, Rainwater said he figured Jones, Elliott, Kayla and Kaitlin O’Mara, and Meyers would have strong showings. However, he said Tubbs, Plant, Sweet, Haiderer and Elsworth really stepped up and helped the Martians win their title.
Rainwater said although the Martians will lose Jones and Elliott to graduation, the girls should field another strong team next season.
‘Losing Janee and Michelle will be a big loss, but if the girls do what they’re capable of, they’ll be in the hunt for the next two to three years,? he said.
Rainwater said the boys team did well in finishing fifth, even though some of the team members did not have their best day. However, he said that is part of competing at the regional and state level ? team members who do their best and work hard all year sometimes head into meets at that level and fall short of what they have achieved during the season.
‘You know going in, you’re going to have some great things happen to kids, and some bad things happen to them. You deal with the highs and the disappointments. They did a great job to finish fifth and not have our greatest day.?
The Martian boys? team’s efforts were highlighted by Charlie Richards, who finished second in the 110 meter hurdles (14.96, just. .02 seconds behind first-place Joey Latz of Ovid-Elsie) and third in the 300 meter intermediate hurdles (39.84).
Rainwater said Richards was in contention for first place in the 110 meter hurdles when another runner fell down and grabbed Richards? jersey.
‘Charlie would have won that race,? Rainwater said. ‘Luckily, he slid to the finish line and finished second.?
Goodrich’s 1,600 meter relay team of Richards, Kirk Elsworth, Wayne Coulman, and Jeff Decator also finished second (3:25.07). The same quartet also placed sixth in the 800 meter relay (1:32.48).
Rainwater said one of the unsung heroes behind the Martians? success is Mike Coke, whom Rainwater said is capable of coaching at the varsity level but instead helps develop Goodrich youngsters in track at the junior high level in preparation for competing at the high school level.
‘He has a great passion for track, and he likes developing kids at that level,? Rainwater said of Coke.