Reeths-Puffer’s 4x100-meter relay team has been focused on making clean handoffs of the baton, to save precious time during competition.
That focus paid off on Tuesday when the team – comprised of Melena Johnson, Brianna Smith, Lainey McDaniel and Madilynn Smith – won the event against competitors from Zeeland West and Grand Rapids Union during a home O-K Green conference track meet.
The Rocket girls team fell short in the overall team competition, losing to Union 61-57 and Zeeland West 116-20, but had a number of other bright spots in the meet.
Jersi Bilek finished in first place in the 800-meter run with a time of 2:32.
R-P's Jersi Bilek, who won the 800-meter run.
The R-P 4x400-meter relay team (Adrienne Fluette, Keeley Cole, Alexis Bridges and Bilek) beat Grand Rapids Union with a time of 5:06.53.
Brianna Smith set a personal record and took second in the 200-meter dash with a time of 27.5 seconds.
Lainey McDaniel placed third in the 100-meter dash.
Other Rockets achieving personal records in their various events were Bailey Bohland, Shian Michael, Sophia Wathen, Savanah Lockwood, Amani Starr, MaKaia Riley-McGuffey, Dani Casano, Lexi Sabin, Kamari Walker and Fluette.
“From a scoring standpoint, this meet did not go as we expected against Union, and we will continue to push forward and put in the work so that the outcome will be better when we face them again,” said R-P Coach Angie Grant. “These girls continue to remain focused, and after each meet I am proud when I look at the long list of personal records they continue to put up.”
