With a legacy that spans nearly half a century, the girls’ Brighton High School cross country team raced at their 47th consecutive MHSAA state finals appearance on November 2—while the boys’ team kept pace with their 45th.
At the MHSAA regional meet, the girls’ team scored 29 points, and the boys’ team scored 39 points, earning their state bid and leading to their first-place victories. One week later, competing at the state meet against 29 teams from across Michigan, Brighton girls finished 5th overall, and the Brighton boys finished 3rd overall out of 27 teams.
The runners who competed for Brighton’s girls were Cayla Marzban (11), Courtney Lince (11), Ella Lorenz (9), Elle Bissett (12), Juliet Lewis (11), Lydia LaMarra (11) and Maizie Cavanaugh (11). Competing for the boys were Blake Kulesza (10), Brady Millington (12), Elijah Forbord (12), Mitchell Cory (11), Tyler Brock (12), Tyler Outlaw (12) and Zachary Wyderko (11).
Tyler Brock led the boys’ finishing with a time of 15.39.6, and Lydia LaMarra led the girls’ with a finishing time of 18.14.3, a personal record for her in the 5K.
Ronan Macarthur (11), who competed in the MHSAA regional meet, said that he is inspired by how “we come back every single year, and before we used to not even qualify for states, and it just shows the work and the commitment we’re constantly putting in and constantly putting our bodies through.”
On a similar note, senior Erica Frey, who has been running cross country for six years, said that “witnessing the team make a name for itself time after time really motivates me, and it shows everyone on the team that we all work hard to go as far as we do, and it makes me want to go that far myself.”
