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Girl power: Chassell, Hancock win in Marquette

Chassell, Hancock win in Marquette

(Provided photo) The Chassell Panthers pose after winning the D-3 title. Pictured from left: Coach Michelle Miller, Kamryn Sohlden, Paige Sleeman, Gwen Kangas, Trisha Pietila, Mrs. Guidotti, Coach Marco Guidotti, Kai Guidotti, Paris Olson, Janie Huhta and Katie Huhta. Kneeling, from left: Shannon Torola, Dane Guidotti, Ally Etelamaki and Ayla Miller.

MARQUETTE — It was a day worth celebrating for the Chassell and Hancock girls here Saturday as they earned championships in the Upper Peninsula Cross Country Finals.

Chassell, which placed four among the Top 8, gained their third straight Division 3 title and won for the fifth time in six years with 36 points. They were followed by Mid Peninsula 73 and Cedarville 90.

Mid Pen sophomore Landry Koski won for the first time, covering the 3.1-mile course in 21 minutes, 31.2 seconds. She was followed by Cedarville freshman Lilianna Cason (21:42.1). Mid Pen junior Daisy Englund (21:49.4) and Pickford senior Natalie Miller (22:00.4) on this partly sunny, breezy and mild day at Gentz’s Golf Course in Chocolay Township.

Chassell grabbed the next four places, led by sophomore Kamyrn Sohldeb (22:07.7), followed by classmate Paige Sleeman (22:09.3), Ayla Miller (22:21.2) and junior Gwen Kangas (22:24.1).

Ewen-Trout Creek junior Elise Besonen placed ninth (22:39.2) and Jeffers freshman Bryn Kinnunen was 13th (23:15.8).

Hancock repeated as D-2 champion with 34 points, followed by St. Ignace 56 and Ishpeming 84.

“We lost three girls from last season, but gained three girls,” said Hancock’s Jennifer Smith, who previously coached in Ohio. “They absolutely pulled it together and did what it took. Four of our girls were playing volleyball and four were always running. We knew St. Ignace was our competition and Ishpeming had some good runners. This is my first year coaching cross country up here. I jumped into an already great program, and we want to keep it going.”

Hancock freshman Maylie Kilpela won in 21:16.9, followed by Munising freshman Hattie Cota (21:43.5) and Ishpeming sophomore Taylor Longtine (22:00.3).

“I just stayed right behind her (Cota),” said Kilpela. “She’s a good runner. I passed her in the last mile and knew I had to keep going. It feels great to be part of a championship team. We were running against good competition all year and that pushed us a lot. All our girls did well.”

Hancock sophomore Sierrah Driscoll placed fifth (22:19.2), followed by senior Makenna Nuttall in sixth (22:25.9) and sophomore Jacie Anderson in ninth (22:41.9). Junior Allison Durant was Baraga’s pacesetter in 29th (25:39.8).

Marquette captured the D-1 title for the fifth time in seven years with 66 points, followed by Kingsford 69, defending champion Sault Ste. Marie 79 and Houghton 80.

Negaunee senior Emily Paupore was crowned champion for the third consecutive year in 19:18.7). She was followed by Kingsford junior Melanie Wenzel (20:27), Houghton sophomore Ingrid Seagren (20:38.9) and Negaunee senior Talen Prusi (20:42.2).

Seagren and Prusi went the wrong way after missing a turn, then avoided disqualification by retracing their steps.

“It was a relief for sure,” Seagren said after receiving word she and Prusi weren’t DQd. “We didn’t know what was going to happen. I was happy for Talon, especially with this being her senior year. It was sad for her for a while. This was probably my best race of the year. Now, I know I can do it. I really appreciate the competition. Everybody really pushed it. I think our team did well. We had pretty good conditions. It was a little windy, but it wasn’t too bad.”

Houghton freshman Sage Resh-Chimmer took 10th (21:17.1) and sophomore Autumn Eles was 16th (21:44.7). Freshman Kiira Berg was Calumet’s leader in 17th (21:47.9).

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