Returning All-Stater Raquel Walker and all-around great runner Jersi Bilek will be two athletes to watch as the Reeths-Puffer girls track team begins the busy part of its season next week.
Bilek won three events and Walker won two in the Rockets’ 89-48 loss to Byron Center last week in its final meet before spring break.
Bilek won the 1,600-meter run with a time of 5:32.12, which was a personal best on an outdoor track. She also won the 400-meter dash (62.51 seconds) and the 200-meter dash (28.92 seconds).
Walker won the 100-meter dash at 12.85 seconds and the long jump with a 16 foot, 6 inch mark.
R-P’s Zaire Wright won the shot put with a mark of 32 feet, 2 inches, which was her personal best by more than two feet.
R-P's Zaire Wright, who won the shot put competition.
The Rockets’ all-freshmen 800-meter relay team (Ariana Siegel, Mattie Kemp, Janiya Jerdine, Alyssa Hillin) was also victorious in its event.
Placing second for the Rockets were Alyssa Hillin (100-meter hurdles), Sophia Wathen (discus) and Makayla Disselkoen (high jump).
Taking third were Hillin (300-meter hurdles), Addison Mitchelson (100-meter dash), Taryn Gill (100-meter hurdles) and Trinity Moore (shot put).
“We are young and it shows at times,” said R-P head coach Parker Aerts. “Our athletes need to be more well-rounded and open-minded to new events. Once our athletes buy into taking a more well-rounded approach, we will be much better as a team.
“Jersi Bilek is a great example of this. She has stepped up to the plate so far this year, put her head down, is doing the work, and is trusting in everything that our coaching staff has to offer. We need more Jersis!”