It’s beginning to sink in for the Goodrich girls cross country team.
The Martians clinched the school’s second state championship in any sport with a win in the state Division 3 girls cross country meet Nov. 1 at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
Goodrich scored 62 points at the meet, easily outdistancing second-place Hillsdale (114) and third-place Jackson Lumen Christi (178). They joined the 1977 boys golf team as Goodrich’s only state champions in school history.
‘It was something we tried to work toward all year and it came to fruition ? it’s unbelievable,? Goodrich coach John Shaw said.
While the team had to wait to find out the good news ? ‘It took them a long time to tell us,? said sophomore Samantha Minkler ? it was well worth the wait, and the girls were eager to share their victory with passers-by on the drive home.
‘We put it all over our parents? cars that we were the state champs,? said freshman Kayla O’Mara.
Junior Janee Jones said Shaw deserves credit for getting the team to believe they could get the job done. ‘Coach kept saying during the summer that we had a chance to win states,? she said.
Shaw said the course at MIS is ‘generally speaking, a fast course.?
‘The problem is you have 300-400 kids and after they start, some get real nervous and don’t run as fast as others,? he said.
The Martians had three competitors make the all-state team by placing in the top 30. Kayla O’Mara led Goodrich with a second-place finish (18:25.15), while twin sister Kaitlin finished sixth overall (18:51.75) and Jones 13th (19:24.25)
Two other Goodrich runners, Minkler and freshman Kelsey Meyers, just missed out on all-state recognition. Minkler finished 32nd (19:54.65), while Meyers placed 35th (20:02.35). Rounding out the Goodrich squad were sophomores Natalie Cook (85th, 20:51.65) and Molly Downer (207th, 23:11.25).
The good news for Goodrich ? and the bad news for its opponents ? is that all seven starters on the varsity squad will return next season, so they will be defending their newly-won state crown fully intact.