MARQUETTE — There are new Upper Peninsula championship trophies on both sides of the Portage Canal.

The Houghton and Hancock girls made that possible by earning cross country titles in their respective divisions in the Upper Peninsula Finals on Saturday.

Houghton retained its Division 1 crown with 52 points, followed by Marquette 69, Negaunee 83 and Sault Ste. Marie 94.

“The girls really wanted to give it their all,” said Houghton coach Traci Welch. “Paige (Sleeman) battled some illness and just went out and did what she needed to do. Claire missed last year (due to Covid), but now she’s healthy and very motivated. Our fourth and fifth runners (freshman Kiira Niska and junior Jewel Laux) were so important to the team. Jewel had Covid and came back and did great. All the teams ran hard. It boiled down to who had the best race today.”

Hancock won D-2 for the third time in four years with 43 points, followed by Ishpeming 54 and Ironwood 72.

“This was our best performance all year,” said Hancock coach Jennifer Smith. “The girls peaked today which is exactly what they needed to do. We were runners-up by one point to St. Ignace last year and really wanted to take it (title) back. We needed everybody at the top of her game. I hope the girls continue to run and the middle school runners keep running, too.”

Gremlins’ senior Ingrid Seagren gained her first title by covering the 3.1-mile course at Gentz’s Homestead Golf Course in Chocolay Township in 20 minutes, 51.7 seconds. She was followed by Sault junior Cassandra Gallagher (21:05.8) and Houghton junior Claire Filpus (21:11.2).

“This has been my goal for a long time,” said Seagren. “There was a lot of pressure on us to win again and we pushed each other real hard all year. I’m super proud of Paige and Claire. You always want to peak for this race, but it’s really hard.”

Calumet junior Kiira Berg placed seventh (21:20) and Sleeman was eighth (21:23.3).

Sleeman, who came into Saturday’s race as defending champion, placed in the top 10 and became part of a U.P. championship team for the fifth consecutive time.

“It’s exciting and unbelievable,” she said “I never thought I’d be part of this many U.P. championship teams. I just developed a love for this sport and the girls I ran with are amazing. Ingrid ran great. I knew it was going to be close race among the top four teams. For me, I just wanted to get the team win.”

Ishpeming sophomore Lola Korpi earned her first D-2 championship in a personal-best 20:04.9, followed by Ironwood freshman Aubrey Smith (21:41.1), Gogebic (Bessemer) senior Natalie Stone (21:56.8) and Hancock senior Sierrah Driscoll (21:58.3).

“I was in seventh most of the race, then I found a third gear in the last 200 meters,” said Driscoll. “I’m super proud of our team and it’s great to see Houghton win because we run with them all season. We make a lot of friends and everybody’s so supportive of each other. This is so exciting for both schools.”

Hancock senior Adia Keranen took eighth (22:31.3). Freshman teammate Ella Keranen was ninth (22:31.3) and junior Maylie Kilpela placed 12th (23:53.7).

Baraga’s pacesetter was sophomore Ella Delene in 15th (24:15.9).

Munising grabbed four of the top eight spots and repeated as D-3 champion with 31 points. The Mustangs were followed by Dollar Bay 71 and Superior Central 99.

Newberry sophomore Kaylen Clark took her first title in 20:50.4, followed by Mid Peninsula senior Landry Koski (21:37.9), Munising junior Monique Brisson (21:51) and Dollar Bay sophomore (22:16.3).

Ontonagon junior Makennah Uotila placed ninth (22:54.3) and Chassell freshman Lily Etelamaki was 10th (23:22.1).