The Reeths-Puffer girls cross country team will have two representatives at next weekend’s state finals at the Michigan International Speedway.
Junior Jersi Bilek and sophomore Gabrielle Chevez both earned a ticket to the finals with strong finishes at Saturday’s Division 1 regional meet in Allendale.
Both managed to excel despite the fact that the Rockets were competing in a very tough regional, according to R-P Coach Linday Keefe.
“Only a select few runners from each region qualify for this race, so it is an honor to take two amazing athletes!” Keefe said.
Bilek placed 21st out of 87 runners with a time of 19:27.
R-P Coach Lindsay Keefe, Jersi Bilek, Gabrielle Chevez
“She had her eyes set on the placement and time she needed, and in typical Jersi fashion she nailed it!” Keefe said about Bilek.
Chevez finished in 28th place while finishing in 20:01, which was her fastest time of the season.
“Gabrielle seemed to pass people the entire race, including chasing down that qualification position in the last 50 meters!” Keefe said.
The Rockets finished in eighth place as a team.
Kaitlyn Durow placed 47th with a time of 21:27, Adrienne Fluette finished 62nd with a time of 22:38, Darcy Keefe was 70th at 23:53, Charli Belinger was 76th with a 24:52 mark, and Sidney Shakelford was 79th with a mark of 26:40.