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Grass Lake High School cross country runner Kailee Sandoval finished ninth at the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state finals on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway.  Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports

(November 9, 2020 5:45 PM) Navy blue tops and navy blue bottoms didn’t make much of a fashion statement by the Grass Lake High School varsity girls’ cross country team.

The Warriors needed something to match the team’s various outgoing personalities.

So, members of the Grass Lake High School varsity cross country team decided to mix it up for the Michigan High School Athletic Association state finals.

The seven runners from GLHS wore pink shorts and ribbons in their hair for a different look at Michigan International Speedway on Saturday at the state finals.

Grass Lake finished 14th out of 27 teams in Division 3 on a mild and breezy day at MIS. Temperatures were in the high 60s to low 70s most of the day.

The uniform change was an idea to express the attitudes of the Warriors.

“We have been stuck with these all navy (colored) jerseys all year,” GLHS senior Kailee Sandoval said. “That is not us … we are such a fun, bold team and needed something to match that.

“Looking good makes you feel good.”

Sandoval must have felt the pinkness in her performance. The senior ran the 5K course at MIS in 19 minutes and 10 seconds, finishing ninth overall. She earned all-state honors for a second consecutive year in Division 3 by finishing in the top 30.

Races were also split with into two – with one race featuring teams that finished first or second at regional competitions and another with teams that finished third at regionals and individual qualifiers.

Grass Lake ran in the first race with teams who placed third at regionals.

This year’s final had COVID-19 restrictions that may have made getting motivated a little harder for runner. Spectators were in the stands (not along the course), there were no tents allowed, and teams had check-in and check-out times to restrict the number of people in the area.

“My motivation was it was my last race as a senior,” Sandoval said. “It was tough because everyone individually had to find where that energy was coming from today.”

For Grass Lake Ava Viegelahn placed 63rd with a time of 20:57; Isabel Spencer finished 99th in 21:30; Madison Basham was 170th at 22:36; Ella Kraus placed 214th in 23:58; Gabby Lutchka was 235th in 25:43; Ella Esterday was 237th with 26:04.

Cascades Conference foes Hanover-Horton finished 19th in the Division 3 team competition.

For Hanover-Horton, Kelly Fielder was 92nd for the Comets (21:24); Sophia Reynolds finished 94th (21:26); Alexis Flint was 142nd in 22:06; Clara Rector finished 150th with a time of 22:14; Isabella Berry placed 164th in 22:31; Kathryn Childs finished 172nd in 22:37; Sydney Fazekasf was 213th in 23:56.

Individual qualifier Hope Wilkes of Columbia Central who placed 65th in 21:00.

Madison Basham of Grass Lake High School competes during the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 3 state finals on Saturday at Michigan International Speedway. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
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