Even at less than full strength, the Goodrich boys and girls track teams are a tough foe to be reckoned with.
The Martians proved that point at the Saginaw Valley State University Invitational Thursday, March 24. Despite missing some team members due to spring break, the Martian boys finished first in the Division 3-4 bracket with 116 points, while the Goodrich girls finished second, trailing only Maple Valley.
The Goodrich boys team won seven events on their way to winning the Division 3-4 championship.
Goodrich won five individual events and two relay events at the meet. Ben Richards captured two events to help lead Goodrich to the win, taking the 800 (2:03.58) and the 1,600 (3:40.05). Jeff Decator won the long jump with a distance of 20?9?, while Charlie Richards took the 60 hurdles in 8.82 and Kirk Elsworth won the 60 in 7.49.
The Martians? 1,600 relay team (3:40.05) and the 800 relay team (1:36.38) also finished first in their respective events.
Also placing for the Martians at SVSU were Wayne Coulman, who placed second in the 400 (53.71), and Joe Leppek, who finished second in the pole vault at an even 10?.
The girls squad nabbed three first places in individual events, with senior Janee Jones winning two of those events, the 400 and the 1,600. Senior Michelle Elliott took first in the hurdles, and, in her first try in the high jump at a varsity meet, placed fifth.
‘We gave her a shot at it in practice because of her basketball background,? Goodrich girls coach Jenny Sweet said. ‘She did really well. It was a combined effort by everyone on the team to finish as well as we did.?
Two of Goodrich’s relay teams also took first at SVSU, as the 3,200 relay team of Jones, Kayla O’Mara, Kelsey Meyers, and Sam Minkler and the 4 x 200 relay team of Elliott, Paige Plant, Casey Tubbs, and Bianna Wilson earned top honors.
In other events, O’Mara placed second in the 3,200, while Andrea Howell took third in the shot put, Molly Downer fourth in the 1,600, and Melissa Luttrell eighth in the 60 dash.
The Martians return to action Saturday, April 9 when they travel to Lake Fenton for the Blue Devil relays.