Whitehall and Reeths-Puffer each opened their seasons Friday at the Grand Rapids South Christian Under the Lights Invitational.
The Viking boys were the highest team finishers among the schools, earning sixth place in the 19-team Twilight division. Senior Stewart Waters opened his campaign with a strong run, coming in fifth in the boys' race. His time was 16:18.2 - only one second shy of his personal best.
Drew Boeringa did run a personal best, placing 19th and earning a time of 17:17.6. Hunter Parsons, a 2023 state qualifier, was 28th and posted a time of 17:33.5.
Two varsity newcomers, freshman Rex Pumford and junior Justin Jensen, closed the scoring for the Vikes. Pumford was 62nd (18:44.2) and Jensen was 67th (18:59.5).
Whitehall's girls took 13th of 21 teams, led as usual by senior Cami Kraai. Kraai finished seventh in the race with a time of 20:01.2. Adalyn Britton followed with a mark of 20:46.6, placing 13th.
Also getting on the board for Whitehall were freshman Kassie Sapp, who took 63rd in her first race (23:25.8); Corina Mitteer, who was 101st (24:51.2); and Ella Nicholson, who was 118th (25:29.0).
The Reeths-Puffer girls finished 16th in the Sunset division. Jersi Bilek paced the Rockets in 22nd (20:05.0). Gabrielle Chevez came in 73rd (22:22.3). Also scoring were Adrienne Fluette (95th, 23:24.2), Darcy Keefe (107th, 24:00.4) and Kaitlyn Durow (114th, 24:11.6).
The Rocket boys had three finishers and could not score as a team. Their three finishers were Jack Yonkman (62nd, 18:14.8), Dylan Sturr (71st, 18:31.3) and Gage Bouwman (163rd, 20:54.1).
