By Jeff Patrus
Sports Writer
Janelle Gutzeit is making the move from coaching middle school track to leading a defending league champion cross country team.
Gutzeit, in her sixth year as an advanced algebra and geometry teacher at Brandon High School, 1025 S. Ortonville Road, Ortonville, has taken the reins of the Blackhawk girls? varsity cross country team this season.
The Blackhawks won the Flint Metro League championship and a Division 2 regional championship last year, advancing to the Division 2 state meet. Brandon finished eighth out of 27 teams at the state meet at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, compiling a team score of 263.
Gutzeit, who coached track at Brandon Middle School for four years prior to this year, said coaching cross country comes naturally to her.
‘I love to run ? I’ve been a long-distance runner since I was about 12,? she said.
While at Kearsley High School in Flint, Gutzeit competed in girls? cross country, then decided to join the women’s crew team at Michigan State University, where the Spartans advanced to the national meet.
She transferred from MSU to the University of Michigan-Flint, where she earned a bachelor’s degree with a major in social studies and a minor in math.
Now that she is in charge of the girls? cross country program at Brandon, she is optimistic about this year’s team.
Although the Blackhawks lost a couple of key performers in Kayla Doan and Kelly Wilson to graduation, the cupboard is not bare for the Blackhawks.
This year’s team is led by senior Kelsey Carmean, who was Brandon’s top runner at states last year, finishing 45th overall with a time of 19.31.4. Also returning from last year’s state qualifiers are: Jamie Hendershott (19.47.3 at the state meet), Hannah Scherer (20:12.1), Sarah Eldon (21:09.3) and Katelin Mackin (21:35.1).
In addition, several newcomers are expected to make positive contributions for the Blackhawks ? senior Kelly Craciun (who Gutzeit said is a ‘huge asset to the team?), sophomore Danielle Mitchell, and freshmen Andrea Newcombe and Sarah Lindsey.
‘We have a lot of new people that are really stepping up to fill those shoes,? Gutzeit said.