The Reeths-Puffer boys cross country team had a very nice showing at the season’s first O-K Green Conference Jamboree on Wednesday, particularly when you consider that the Rockets were competing without their top runner.
Even with the injured Jaxon Allen missing from the lineup, R-P finished fourth in the challenging eight-team field with 83 points. Zeeland West won the competition with 29 points.
R-P boys cross country team members Jack Yonkman, Jamie Neel, Jaxon Allen, Kye Grant
The Rockets placed three runners in the top 20 – Tate Bradley (12th place, 15:36.41), Kye Grant (14th, 15:46.25) and Jamie Neel (19th, 16:04.00).
Daniel Dunn (21st 16:12.99) and Jack Yonkman (23rd, 16:40.38) also had strong performances.
“I’m pleased with how our Rockets responded to a short course, and how their fitness is improving and the gap between our first runner to our last is getting closer,” said R-P Coach Darin Grant. “There is more work to be done but we are headed in the right direction.”
The Reeths-Puffer girls team had a more difficult day, finishing fifth in the five-team field with a score of 130. Zeeland East won the girls race with 38 points.
R-P’s Jersi Bilek finished 12th individually with a time of 18:32.36. She was followed by Eva Shinabery (34th, 21:05.36), Bella Cole (43rd , 22:05.29), Hope Latsch (45th, 22:09.39) and Ellie Knapp (44th, 22:40.20).