By Andrew Johnson
LocalSportsJournal.com

EGELSTON TOWNSHIP – Track is a team sport, and the Whitehall girls track team made that clear on Saturday while taking home the Greater Muskegon Athletic Association City Meet championship at Oakridge High School..

The Vikings finished with a total of 110 points, outpacing Montague (97) points and Mona Shores with (95). 

Rounding out the tream scores were Reeths-Puffer (74), Fruitport (54), North Muskegon (30), Ravenna (29), Muskegon (16), Western Michigan Christian (7), Holton (7), Oakridge (4) and Orchard View (3).

Whitehall’s victory ended a streak of 10 straight girls city titles for Reeths-Puffer.

In total, Whitehall had 14 individual top five finishes, and two relay team top five team finishes, to round out its championship effort.

“Every point matters,” said Whitehall coach Carrie Goodrich about the scoring philosophy her team has. “The team chemistry is incredible. All the girls support each other and encourage each other.”

Leading those top five finishers for the Vikings were Ryann Jibson, who won the 800 meter run; Karleigh Jeffries, who won the shot put event; and Charley Klint, who won the pole vault.

“It feels really good,” said Jeffries about winning the shot put and finishing second overall in the discus. “I worked so hard to get here, so it’s awesome that it all paid off. It feels great to help contribute to the team and help us win.”

Jibson was also a part of the 4×400 meter relay team that finished second and the 4×800 meter relay team that  finished fourth.

“l just tried to run and do my best,” said Jibson about contributing to the team championship. “I wanted to do everything I could for myself and the team. We didn’t think this was going to happen today, but to help the seniors go out with a city championship means so much.”

The team championship came as a surprise to Goodrich, since the event was only the second meet the Vikings have had all season.

“It’s a surprise being our second meet of the year,” the coach said. “I’m just proud of our girls. We have a lot of team bonding and it really showed today.” 

GMAA GIRLS CITY TRACK MEET

EVENT CHAMPIONS

100 METERS: Anabeth Hylland, Mona Shores 13.26
200 METERS: Kendra Postema, Ravenna 27.18
400 METERS: Kylie Rudolph, Fruitport 1:02.57
800 METERS: Ryann Jibson, Whitehall 2:36.86
1600 METERS: Gabriella Wingard, North Muskegon 5:47.66
3200 METERS: Gabriella Wingard, North Muskegon 12:24.29
100m HURDLES: Allie Moore, Reeths-Puffer 17.21
300m HURDLES: Brooke Tong, Reeths-Puffer 50.86
4×100 RELAY: Montague (Brooke Stark, Lauren Smith, Maddie Meacham, Natalie Erickson) 52.27
4×200 RELAY: Montague (Brooke Stark, Lauren Smith, Maddie Meacham, Natalie Erickson) 1:51.42
4×400 RELAY: Montague (Maddie Meacham, Ally Hall, Andreea Atchison, Britta Johnson)
4×800 RELAY: Mona Shores (Robyn Hunt, Cecillia Conrad, Audrey White, Ashley Davis) 10:47.64
SHOT PUT: Karleigh Jeffries, Whitehall 31-8
DISCUS: Avery Wilks, Fruitport 119-7
HIGH JUMP: Brianna Stawski, Reeths-Puffer 5-3
POLE VAULT: Charley Klint, Whitehall 8-9
LONG JUMP: Kylie Rudolph, Fruitport 15-4.5