In Belding, they’re called the Rode triplets.
On the track, they’re called very good.
Danielle, Harley, and MacKenzie Rode are sophomores on the Belding girls track conference championship team.
Coach John Carlson appreciated having all three on his team.
“All three were first team all-conference in the OK-Blue,” Carlson said. “They were a key part in our OK-Blue undefeated regular season (6-0 in dual meets) and our conference championship season. They also supplied a ton of the firepower to help us score enough points in the power rankings to qualify for the MITCA team state meet at Zeeland.”
All three qualified for the Division 3 state finals to be held at Forest Hills Eastern June 1.
Danielle was a conference champ in the 400-meter dash, 3,200-meter relay, and 1,600-meter relay, and she qualified for the state meet in the 3,200-meter relay . She cleared 9’2″ in the pole vault for a school record and had a 2:27.8 split time in the 800-meter relay. She was part of the school-record setting 3,200-meter relay team that finished in 9:48. She also ran a the 400-meter dash in 62.4 seconds and won a conference championship with the 1,600-meter relay team that finished in 4:18.05.
“My biggest highlight was when our 4 by 800 team won conference and broke 10 minutes,” Danielle said. “That was exciting. Then we qualified for state. That was a big deal for us.”
Harley Rode was also a conference champ on the 1,600-meter relay team with a split time of 66.4 seconds. At the conference meet, in the long jump, she had her season-best of 15’1½” and qualified for the state meet on the 800-meter relay team that broke a school record by 2.5 seconds when the Redskins clocked a 1:48.68 at regionals.
“My biggest personal highlight was all-conference in the 1,600-relay because I got to share that with my sisters,” said Harley.
MacKenzie Rode was a conference runner-up in the long jump and in the 400-meter dash. She also competed on the conference championship 1,600-meter relay team, participated with the state-qualifying 800-meter relay team, and covered 16’4″ in the regional long jump to qualify for the state meet.
“My biggest highlight was winning the O-K Blue Conference with such an amazing track team,” MacKenzie said. “Our coach told us the first day he wanted to win the O-K Blue Conference and we kind of thought he was crazy. We were kind of shocked. But we put forth so much effort during the season that we could see it happening.”
A favorite highlight for MacKenzie was in the long jump. “I set a goal for myself to get into the 14s,” she said. “I exceeded that goal with getting into the 16s.”
All three also played junior varsity basketball and volleyball. Danielle was called up to the varsity late in the season for volleyball and for basketball district action.
“I believe all three are taking A.P. College Advanced Placement classes as sophomores,” Carlson said.
Danielle calls it “fun” to have triplet sisters on the track team. “They’re like my friends and it’s cool when our relay team is announced and they say ‘Rode, Rode, Rode,’” she said.
“I always have someone to give me a pep talk or warm up with or cheer me on,” Harley said.
“It’s really fun,” MacKenzie said. “I always have someone there on the sidelines cheering for me at the time. I never get bored. It’s always a good experience.”