MOUNTAIN BROOK – Shades Valley’s Reah Degraffenried put together another strong performance this past weekend. Degraffenried’s performance helped the Mounties to a 12th-place finish among 32 teams at the Mountain Brook Invitational. “I definitely enjoyed the meet,” said Degraffenried. “There were a lot of different athletes that I haven’t competed against this season.”
Degraffenried won the 300 meter hurdles with a time of 44.34, the third fastest time in the state this year. Her time of 42.89 at Mobile’s Challenge of Champions on April 1 remains the fastest in the state and 23rd fastest in the nation.
The Valley senior ran a Personal Record in the 100 meter dash with a time of 12.08. Degraffenried finished behind Destiny Roper of Foley. Degraffenried’s time is the 6th fastest in the state and second fastest in 6A.
Degraffenried finished 3rd in the 100 meter hurdles, finishing behind Tori Mack of Hewitt-Trussville and Lily Rigor of Chelsea. She holds the 4th fastest time in the state and the 2nd fastest time in 6A.
Degraffenried, who has her sights set on multiple state championships at the State Championship May 5-7, has run Personal Bests in the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash, 100 meter hurdles, and 300 meter hurdles over the last two weeks. “I think my training is going very well overall,” she said. “I trust my coaches and know that I will be more than prepared for sectionals and state.”
Shades Valley head coach Gary Ferguson says, “Reah represents what a true champion looks like. She takes the good with the bad. She’s always learning. If a mistake is made in the race, we get back to practice and work on the area in which it occurred. Then she goes out to the next meet and corrects the mistake. Her hard work, along with her talent, is what’s pushing her to the next level.”
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