Reeths-Puffer cross country runners Jaxon Allen and Kye Grant both had great days at the Division 1 regional meet at Allendale High School on Saturday, finishing in the top 15 and qualifying for next weekend’s state finals.
Allen, a junior, finished in fourth place in a field of 100 runners, with a time of 16:10.39. Allen qualified for the state finals for the second straight year.
Grant, a sophomore, ran the fastest race of his varsity career and finished in 14th place with a time of 16:33.97.
They will both compete at next Saturday’s MHSAA Division 1 state finals at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn.
R-P's Kye Grant (left) and Jaxon Allen, who both qualified for the state finals.
“Going into the meet I had Jaxon ranked around seventh place,” said R-P boys coach Darin Grant. “I would have told you that Kye was ranked 30th while also knowing he could go faster, but not knowing how much faster.
“At the start of the race Jaxon and Kye were both in the front for 100 meters or so and then settled into the top 15. They both stayed composed and worked hard the entire race. Jaxon constantly moved up the entire race while Kyle was focused and working on not getting too comfortable, knowing the top 15 was a guaranteed ticket to the state finals.”
Grant’s time on the Allendale course was 1:03 faster than he ran it a year ago and 40 seconds faster than he ran it during an invitational about a month ago.
R-P freshman Jersi Bilek, who finished 23rd at regionals.
R-P's Jamie Neel finished 54th overall with a time of 18:14.07, Tate Bradley was 60th with a time of 18:23.25 and Jack Yonkman was 61st with a time of 18:24.66.
In the girls race, freshman standout Jersi Bilek completed a great season by finishing 23rd in regionals against some very tough competition. She came in with a time of 20:07.79.
“Jersi was only the fifth freshman to cross the finish line and she had a great race,” said R-P girls coach Lindsay Keefe. “She ran smart and felt strong through the entire race. It was so much fun to see her passing and making moves.”
Reeths-Puffer senior Ava Shinabery finished 65th with a time of 22:36.83, fellow senior Alison Jakobi was 71st with a time of 23:13.99, Keeley Cole was 72nd with a 23:25.77 and Adrienne Fluette came in 76th with a 24:12.04 mark.