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Zeeland East girls claim seventh straight OK Green title behind Emma Drnek's four wins

dan d'addona, holland sentinel
·3 min read

WYOMING - Emma Drnek took a huge leap to become the best cross country runner in the area in the fall.

That has only continued on the track.

Drnek won three individual events and was part of a winning relay for Zeeland East, leading the Chix to their seventh consecutive OK Green Conference championship on Friday at Wyoming.

The Zeeland East girls won the meet with 229.5 points. Zeeland West was second with 155, followed by Holland (74.5), Mona Shores (68), Reeths-Puffer (61), Muskegon (36), Wyoming (32) and Grand Rapids Union (10).

Drnek won the 800 meters in 2:18.26, ahead of Zeeland West's Jordyn Klaasen (2:23.26) and East's Meredith Cook (2:23.98).

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Drnek won the 1,600 in 5:08.30 ahead of teammate Allison Kuzma (5:12.64) and West's Evie Kleinheksel (5:25.10).

Drnek capped the meet with a win in the 3,200, winning in 11:45.28, going 1-2-3 with Kuzma (11:45.31) and Taryn DiLaura (12:02.66).

"It means a lot. It is crazy that it is seven. Coach (Josh Vork) makes us all fall in love with the sport and that dedication makes the program what it is, and it means a lot," Drnek said.

Zeeland East's Emma Drnek, right, and Allison Kuzma run the 1,600 meters at the OK Green Conference meet on Friday at Wyoming.
Zeeland East's Emma Drnek, right, and Allison Kuzma run the 1,600 meters at the OK Green Conference meet on Friday at Wyoming.

Cook, Kuzma, Drnek and DiLaura won the 4x800 (9:36.67) to start the meet. Cook won the 400 meters in 1:00.51.

East's Anna Tilden won the shot put in 36-9 1/4 to hold off West's Isabel Assink (35-9). Tilden also won the dicus (137-0) ahead of Assink (119-10).

East's Mirra Fenlon won the long jump (16-9 1/4) and took second in the high jump (4-10). Kate Murphy was second in the pole vault (8-6) and Elyse Smith was third (7-6).

"It was a great day. We outperformed where I thought we would be," Zeeland East coach Josh Vork said. "Emma was awesome and Anna was awesome. The 4x800 set the tone early and the pole vaulters got the momentum rolling. Seven in row, it is easy to take for granted because we have so many great athletes. But seven in a row, nobody does that. That fact that we can keep this thing going and keep kids buying in is a testament to the kids in Zeeland and the coaching staff."

Zeeland East's Anna Tilden competes in the discus at the OK Green Conference meet.
Zeeland East's Anna Tilden competes in the discus at the OK Green Conference meet.

Zeeland West's Avari Peddie won the 200 meters (26.98) to hold off Holland's Madalyn Daniels (27.32) and Miona Rodgers (27.42).

West's Amaya Brott won the 300 hurdles (48.66) ahead of East's Kat Wilson (49.19) and Selah Huizenga (50.04).

West's Elysia Alejandro, Greta Hondorp, Kendall Ruster and Jordin Robelin won the 4x200 (1:49.46). Hondorp, Klaasen, Kleinheksel and Peddie won the 4x400 (4:10.23).

Robelin took second in the long jump (15-10 1/2) and East's Elyse Smith was third (15-9 3/4).

Holland's Madalyn Daniels won the 100 meters in 12.86. Peddie was third (13.07). Holland's Alba Rodriguez-Lima won the 100 hurdles in 16.82 ahead of Ruster (16.86) and East's Brynn Blanton (16.87).

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as  Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Zeeland East girls claim seventh straight OK Green championship