R-P cross country runners

Running in poor conditions is part of the challenge of high school cross country, and the Reeths-Puffer girls team had to move through mud and whipping winds on Wednesday at the O-K Green Conference Championship meet.

Freshman standout Jersi Bilek dealt with the conditions well, placing 11th with a time of 20:38 while competing against a host of older runners.

R-P runner Jersi Bilek, who finished in 11th place at the conference championship meet.

“This race was about grit, and Jersi more than accepted the challenge,” said R-P girls coach Lindsay Keefe.

Sophomore Adrienne Fluette finished 27th with a time of 23:01, senior Eva Shinabery was 29th with a 23:37, senior Allison Jakobi was 32nd with a 23:45, and freshman Keeley Cole took 34th while running her second fastest time of the season at 23:56.

The Rockets finished fifth in the six-team field with 133 points. Zeeland East captured first place with 37 points.