Jamie Glenn/Daily Mining Gazette Hancock’s Karena Holmstrom runs down a straightaway during a relay race Thursday at the WestPAC conference track meet at Houghton’s Alumni Field.

HOUGHTON — The Houghton girls got scoring from many sources on a most cloudy and chilly Wednesday afternoon, earning the WestPAC Conference track title with 133 points. They were followed by Negaunee (107) and Westwood (97).

“This was just a great team performance,” said Houghton assistant coach Bill Fezzy. “Our strength has been our depth. We keep pecking away with thirds and fourths and today our fifths and sixths helped.”

The Westwood boys captured their first WestPAC championship with 151 points, followed by Ishpeming (109) and Calumet (85).

Houghton senior Anabel Needham led the Houghton girls, taking the 1600-meter run in a season-best five minutes, 25.13 seconds and 3200 (12:14.56) and achoring the winning 3200 relay (10:49.62) on the Gremlins’ new rubberized eight-lane facilty.

“That was my second-best 1600 ever,” said Needham, who plans to run cross country at Michigan Tech this fall. “I’m very happy with that. I’m really enjoying our new track. Before this year I hadn’t run in a home meet since eighth grade. It was nice to be able to enjoy it in my senior year.”

The Gremlins placed three in the 1600 and 3200. Ingrid Seagren took second in the 3200 (12;37.24) and third in the 1600 (5:46.28). Freshman Maria Valet was fourth in the 3200 (13:28.63) and Mikayla Sague was sixth in the 1600 (6:17.6).

Seagren and Velat were also part of the 3200 relay.

“Anabel has been solid all year and we had a sophomore who stood out in shot put and discus (Lillian Williston), “ said Fezzy. “Lily Baker is doing a nice job for us and Steve Dunstan is one of the premiere pole vault coaches in the U.P. He does a great job with our kids.

Baker provided the Gremlins with a first in pole vault at nine feet.

“It was a challenging day for vaulting, but I just tried to block everything out,” Baker said shortly after missing on three attempts at the school record (9-4). “I’ve cleared 9-1 before. We had the wind on our back and it’s usually better that way. It’s really nice to vault with our new runway. It just makes for better footing.”

Negaunee junior Chloe Norman won four events, taking the 300 hurdles (46.88), 100s (17.25), high jump (4-8) and long jump (16-5).

“My starts felt pretty good,” she said. “I knew I had to go out fast in the back stretch because we were going into the wind in the home stretch. I spent pretty much the whole meet trying to stay warm. This new track is super nice. The high jump and long jump runways were real good. I enjoy running here.”

Gwinn senior Emily Curtice also had a hand in three firsts, winning the 100 (13.62), 200 (27.91) and anchoring the winning 400 relay (53.83).

“In the beginning it was real cold,” said Curtice. “Then we had a chance to get warmed up and after a while it wasn’t too bad. My starts felt better than they did on Monday (in the Mid-Peninsula Conference meet at Ishpeming). Our relays have been doing real good this year.”

Westwood’s Tessa Leece was a double-winner, taking the 400 (1:04.07) and 800 (2:38.98).

Gwinn’s Marissa Delmont uncorked a toss of 38-feet-10.5 in shot put and Negaunee’s Abbie Tollefson captured discus (115-7).

For the boys, Westwood senior Nathan Beckman collected firsts in the 100 (11.87) and 200 (23.75) and anchored the winning 400 (46.07) and 800 relay (1:36.16).

“Nathan is a very solid athlete and I think our team starts with his leadership.” said Westwood coach Scott Syrjala. “We’re also getting great senior leadership from Sam Gilles and we have a real solid junior group. Hunter Perry did a nice job for us, taking fifth in 100 and 200. Our kids ran hard on Monday and they ran hard again today. Our girls also did well.”

Westwood Jack Boase captured the 110 hurdles (16.68) and 300s (42.82). Blake Hewitt added a first in shot put (43-10) and Chad Pohlman took the 400 (53.73)

Junior Jonah Broberg provided Ishpeming with firsts in the 800 (2:10.28), 1600 (4:48.81) and 3200 (10:24.97).

“I’ve adjusted my breathing and didn’t have one cramp all year,” said Broberg. “If you get boxed in, you have to stay calm and maintain your breathing. It’s just a matter of staying in rhythm. Last year, I didn’t do as well with that.”

The Hematites indeed showed their dominance in the distances, taking the top three spots in the 800 and 1600 and grabbing four places in the 3200.

“Ishpeming has a real strong distance team,” said Syrjala. “P.J. (coach Pruett) does a great job with them.”

Negaunee’s Tyler Hintsala took high jump (5-8) and long jump (17-8) and Ishpeming’s Logan Kruhlik copped discus (122-4) and was runner-up in shot by a quarter-inch.

Austin Salani provided Hancock with its lone first in pole vauit at 13 feet.

“This has been a rebuilding year for us,” said Houghton coach Dan Junttila. “We have some good seniors who have helped us a lot. We have 51 boys on our team. The future looks bright. Ishpeming and Westwood are just so strong this year which speaks well for the WestPAC.”

WestPAC Conference

At Houghton

Boys

Westwood 151, Ishpeming 109, Calumet 85, Houghton and Negaunee 69, L’Anse 16, Hancock 13, Gwinn 9, West Iron County 4.

3200 relay — 1, Ishpeming (Giroux, Longtine, Liimatta, J. Broberg), 9:09.91; 2, Houghton; 3, Westwood; 4, L’Anse; 5, Negaunee.

110 hurdles — 1, J. Boase, W, 16.68; 2, Schneiderman, C; 3, Erva, Hou; 4, Jurva, Hou; 5, Wright, N; 6, Duvall, G.

100 — 1, Beckman, W, 11.87; 2, DuShane, N; 3, Pohlman, W; 4, Nelson, C; 5, M. Boase, W; 6, Sikora, N.

800 relay — 1, Westwood (Dellangelo, Anderson, Pohlman, Beckman), 1:36.16; 2, Calumet; 3, Negaunee; 4, L’Anse; 5, Hancock.

1600 — 1, J. Broberg, I, 4:48,81; 2, S. Giroux, I; 3, S. Broberg, I; 4, Wood, Hou; 5, Longtine, I; 6, Peterson, Hou.

400 relay — 1, Westwood (Uren, Dellangelo, Anderson, Beckman), 46.07; 2, Calumet; 3, Ishpming; 4, Negaunee; 5, Houghton; 6, Gwinn.

400 — 1, Pohlman, W, 53.73; 2, DuShane, N; 3, Anderson, W; 4, Dellangelo, W; 5, Ojala, C; 6, Sullivan, Hou.

300 hurdles — 1, J. Boase, W, 42.82; 2, Schneiderman, C; 3, Jurva, Hou; 4, Erva, Hou; 5, Vidlund, W; 6, Goyen, L.

800 — 1, J. Broberg, I, 2:10.28; 2, S. Giroux, I; 3, Liimatta, I; 4, Laux, Hou; 5, McParlan, C; 6, Kangas, W.

200 — 1, Beckman, W, 23.75; 2, DuShane, N; 3, Pohlman, W; 4, Lundquist, C; 5, Perry, W; 6, Nelson, N.

3200 — 1, J. Broberg, I, 10:24.97; 2, Wood, Hou; 3, S. Broberg, I; 4, S. Giroux, I; 5, Peterson, Hou; 6, L. Giroux, I.

1600 relay — 1, Westwood (Carlson, Anderson, Jestila, Dellangelo), 3:45.97; 2, Calumet; 3, Houghton; 4, Ishpeming; 5, Negaunee; 6, Hancock.

High jump — 1, Hintsala, N, 5-8; 2, Rosemurgy, Hou and Hochstein, L (tie); 4, McParlan, C; 5, Alderson, W; 6, Helstein, W.

Long jump — 1, Salani, Han, 13-0; 2, LeMire, W; 3, Mariuzza, W; 4, Cain, N; 5, Lindholm, W; 6, F. Helppi, N.

Long jump — 1, Hintsala, N, 17-8; 2, Nelson, C; 3, Duvall, G; 4, Kangas, W; 5, Djerf, C; 6, Evans, G.

Shot put — 1, Hewitt, W, 43-10; 2, Kruhlik, I; 3, Zapolnik, Hou; 4, Gariepy, C; 5, Gilles, W; 6, Studebaker, C.

Discus — 1, Kruhlik, I, 122-4; 2, Djerf, C; 3, Gariepy, C; 4, Lundin, WIC; 5, L. Helppi, N; 6, Alderton, W.

Girls

Houghton 133, Negaunee 107, Westwood 97, Gwinn 57, Calumet 38, Ishpeming 37, West Iron County 21, L’Anse and Hancock 18.

3200 relay — 1, Houghton (Seagren, Johnson, Velat, Needham), 10:49.62; 2, Westwood; 3, Negaunee; 4, Ishpeming; 5, Hancock; 6, West Iron County.

100 hurdles — 1, Norman, N, 17.25; 2, Shamion, WIC; 3, Peters, C; 4, Mead, I; 5, Smith, W; 6, Cyrus, Hou.

100 — 1, Curtice, G, 13.62; 2, Sipe, L; 3, Wagner, Hou; 4, Jacques, C; 5, Smith, W; 6, Poirier, I.

800 relay — 1, Gwinn (McGuire, Marissa Delmont, Mannor, Mallory Delmont), 1:56.43; 2, Calumet; 3, Ishpeming; 4, Houghton; 5, Negaunee; 6, L’Anse.

1600 — 1, Needham, Hou, 5:25.13; 2, Leese, W; 3, Seagren, Hou; 4, Prusi, N; 5, Ossenheimer, N; 6, Sague, Hou.

400 relay — 1, Gwinn (Marissa Delmont, Mallory Delmont, McGuire, Curtice), 53.83; 2, Ishpeming; 3, Calumet; 4, Houghton; 5, Negaunee; 6, L’Anse.

400 — 1, Leese, W, 1:04.07; 2, Williams, W: 3, Trewhella, Hou; 4, Holmstrom, Han; 5, Klein, Han; 6, Ackland, W.

300 hurdles — 1, Norman, N, 46.88; 2, Smith, W; 3, Shamion, WIC; 4, Cyrus, Hou; 5, Perrault, W; 6, Seppala, N.

800 — 1, Leese, W, 2:38.98; 2, Strom, C; 3, Leece, W; 4, Johnson, Hou; 5, Ossenheimer, N; 6, Downey, N.

200 — 1, Curtice, G, 27.91; 2, Sipe, L; 3, Wagner, Hou; 4, Jacques, C; 5, Williams, W; 6, Koski, I.

3200 — 1, Needham, Hou, 12:14.56; 2, Seagren, Hou; 3, Prusi, N; 4, Velat, Hou; 5, Longtine, I; 6, Nuttall, Han.

1600 relay — 1, Westwood (Ackland, Smith, Perrault, Williams), 4:32.91; 2, Hancock; 3, Houghton; 4, Negaunee; 5, West Iron County.

High jump — 1, Norman, N, 4-8; 2, Curtice, G and Leese, W (tie); 4, Cyrus, Hou; 5, Gariepy, C; 6, Ackland, W.

Pole vault — 1, Baker, Hou, 9-0; 2, Anttila, W; 3, Shaw, Hou and Mariuzza, W (tie); 5, Meyer, Hou and Aho, N (tie).

Long jump — 1, Marissa Delmont, G, 38-10 1/2; 2, McCracken, N; 3, Williston, Hou; 4, Tollefson, N; 5, Nelson, WIC: 6, Hill, N.

Discus — 1, Tollefson, N, 115-7; 2, Loman, I; 3, Williston, Hou; 4, Hill, N; 5, Nelson, WIC: 6, Svoke, Hou.