The very young Reeths-Puffer girls cross country team kicked off its season on Tuesday with great performances by three underclassmen at the Eagle Invitational at Fruitport Calvary Christian.
Sophomore Jersi Bilek, who started having success last year, finished third in the individual race with a time of 21:08. She battled for second place for most of the race and only finished about 15 seconds behind Fruitport’s Tatum Dykstra.
R-P's Jersi Bilek
“She ran a minute and a half faster than where she started last season,” R-P Coach Lindsay Keefe said about Bilek. "She had a great battle for second throughout the race. I know with a few more races she will win that next one-on-one battle.”
R-P freshman Gabrielle Chevez had a great varsity debut, finishing fifth individually with a time of 20:33.
Fellow freshman Darcy Keefe finished 20th with a time of time of 24:12.
R-P's Gabrielle Chevez
“This was a great place for Gabrielle to start the season and she had a fantastic race,” Coach Keefe said. “Darcy had a goal for her pace and while it was a fast start she held it for a great finishing time.”
Bilek, Chevez and Keefe all won medals for their performances.
Junior Adrienne Fluette finished 22nd, freshman Kailyn Durow took 38th and sophomores Hope Latsch and Keeley Cole placed 40th and 43rd, respectively.
Overall the Rockets finished fifth out of six in the team standings with 85 points. Western Michigan Christian took the title with 50 points.
