Reeths-Puffer senior cross country runner Jersi Bilek dug deep on Saturday and qualified for the Division 1 state finals for the third year in row.
Bilek, who struggled with a lingering illness and injuries earlier this season, finished in 19th place in a field of 85 runners in the regional race at Allendale. By doing so, she captured one of seven individual berths in the state finals, with the other spots reserved for runners from the three teams that qualified for state.
Bilek posted a time of 19:20, easily her best mark of the season, and the fastest she’s run since her outstanding sophomore season.
She will run in state finals on Saturday at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan.
Jersi Bilek
“Jersi ran the first mile slightly faster than usual and held on to that pack of runners the entire race,” said R-P Coach Lindsay Keefe. “She made some tough decisions to pass in the last 800 meters and it turned into a continued battle to the finish line.
“It was an amazing feat of perseverance and mental strength to be passed, and then will yourself the strength to hang on, and then pass them back, and this went back and forth for the last half mile.”
The rest of the R-P runners wrapped up their seasons on the Allendale course.
Junior Darcy Keefe had the second best finish for the Rockets, taking 50th place with a new personal record of 21:33. Junior Kaiyn Durow was three spots behind at 53rd with her best time of the season at 23:08.
Sidney Shakelford finished 78th (26:57) and Olivia Yonkman was 79th (27:02).