A week of team accomplishments for the Goodrich track program took a back seat as the Martians welcomed back one of their own May 23.
Junior Kaitlin O’Mara competed in her first race of the season at the Genesee Area Conference Red Division track meet that day at Byron, running the second leg of the girls 3,200 meter relay.
The accomplishment came approximately four months after a January car accident that took the life of Kaitlin’s twin sister Kayla, and left Kaitlin and friend Danielle Bila severely injured.
Goodrich coach Jennifer Sweet said O’Mara’s appearance lifted the entire team’s spirits.
‘It was the highlight of the season,? she said. ‘A state championship seems not so important when you see her walk on the track. It did everyone a world of good.?
Sweet said while the Martians had to turn in their roster list beforehand for each individual event at the league meet, the relay spots were open until the day of the meet, thus leaving the door open for O’Mara to compete.
‘About one or two weeks ago, she expressed interest in running in one of the meets,? she said. ‘Monday (May 22) at practice, she again expressed interest in wanting to do it. We went into a league meet with an open mind. She never faltered ? there was never a second thought. She definitely set a high tone with the meet.?
O’Mara and teammates Kelsey Krych, Kelsey Meyers and Sam Minkler won the relay in 10:21.68, one of 11 events the Martian girls won on their way to dominating the meet. Goodrich finished with 199-1/2 points, easily outdistancing second-place Mt. Morris (89-1/2).
The Martians? performance, combined with their 12-0 league record, was enough for them to clinch the GAC Red championship.
Goodrich’s boys team also won the league meet to clinch a first-place tie in the GAC Red. The Martians finished with 161 points, outdistancing second-place Montrose (112).
The Martians and Rams each tallied 11 points in combined dual and league meet action to share the league’s top spot.
On their way to winning the league title, the Martians won four field events, with Kortni Elsworth capturing two of those victories, winning the long jump (17?1-3/4?) and the high jump (4?11?). Sarah Sweet won the shot put (33?4?) and took second in the discus (106?), while teammate JoAnn Carter won the discus (106?8?).
In addition to the 3,200 meter relay, the Martians also won two other relays, as the 800 meter relay team of Elsworth, Paige Plant, Christina Sweet and Casey Tubbs won in 1:53.05 and the 400 meter relay team of Brittany Coulman, Plant, Elsworth and Krych won in 52.58.
Other Goodrich first-place finishers were Elsworth in the 100 meters (12.9), Krych in the 800 meters (2:24.24) and Meyers in both the 1,600 meters (5:25.96) and 3,200 meters (11:45.81). Minkler finished right behind Meyers in the 1,600 meters at 5:48.53.
In the boys meet, the Martians won three field events, with Tyler Bouck (5?9?) and Stephen Harlow (5?9?) finishing one-two. Joe Leppek won the pole vault (12?), while Joel Calverley won the long jump in 18?10?.
The Martians also notched six other second-place finishes, including three in relay events ? the 400 meters (46.3), 1,600 meters (3:42.86) and 3,200 meters (8:42.40).
In addition, Alex Kauer nabbed second-place finishes in the 110 hurdles and 300 hurdles, while while Kyle Hughes finished second in the 200 meters.
The Goodrich girls also repeated as Division 3 regional champions Saturday, May 20 at Almont, qualifying for the state meet. Goodrich finished with 121 points to 92.5 for second-place Armada.
Sarah Sweet won both the discus and shot put, while Elsworth won the long jump and Krych the 800 meters. The Martians? 3,200 meter relay team of Mary Haiderer, Krych, Meyers and Minkler and the 1,600 meter relay team of Krych, Meyers, Elsworth and Minkler also won their events.
The Martian boys, who won regionals last year, finished third this year with 70.53 points. Detroit Country Day won the meet with 129 points.
The 3,200 relay team of Brandon DeGrouchy, Bill Feldmann, Matt Fauth and Chad Marler qualified for states by winning that event in 8:44.81, while Joe Leppek won the pole vault (12?).