ISHPEMING — The Jeffers boys reaped the benefits of running as a pack Thursday, earning top honors in the Tracy Strom Invitational cross country meet with 29 points.

They were followed by Houghton 43, Negaunee 51 and Westwood 108 in this season’s second WestPAC Conference meet on this sunny and mild day at the Al Quaal Recreation Center.

“I’m happy with the boys’ run,” said Houghton coach Traci Welch. “Cyrus (Hamlin) is running very well. I think all of them had PRs (personal records). Our fourth runner was attending a leadership conference in Wisconsin. I kind of thought Jeffers was going to beat us today. They’ve had five boys running in the 18s.”

The Houghton girls, who placed five in the top nine, won with 17 points. They were followed by Hancock 64, Calumet 69 and Negaunee 83.

Hamlin won the hilly 3.1-mile race in 18 minutes, 3.4 seconds and Negaunee senior Judge Anderson was runner-up (18:05.5).

“This course has a lot of little rolling hills and I wanted to get a little faster on the top of those,” said Hamlin. “The second half was a little tough for me. I think I handled the last hill pretty well. I did kind of a walk/run on it. I sacrificed a few seconds, but picked it up on the flat.”

Jeffers, led by senior Tavin Larson (18:18.8), grabbed the next four places. He was followed by freshmen Landon Larson (18:22.4) and Cameron Anderson (18:27.6) and sophomore Brit Heinonen (18:39.3).

Ishpeming junior Lola Korpi won at 20:36.9, followed by Houghton freshman Tessa Rautiola (21:15.5), sophomore Lily Ross (21:39.7) and senior Claire Filpus (21:51.9).

“The course is challenging, especially coming up the last hill,” said Korpi. “I’ve run that hill many times before which I think is an advantage. Having the home course advantage, I was pretty confident coming in. I wanted to work on my second mile where there’s lot of rolling hills.”

Rautiola was happy with her runner-up finish and the team title.

“I just wanted to have a good race and attack the hills,” she said. “This is definitely a harder course. I think this is even harder than Calumet’s course. Our team is pretty strong this year. The weather was good. We had a nice breeze and it wasn’t too hot. It helps to see someone in front of you.”

Welch had similar thoughts.

“We’re really rolling right now,” she said. “Placing five in the top nine is pretty good. I think the girls were doubting themselves a little before. Tessa just had a phenomenal race. We were lucky to get her. Our fifth runner (senior Jewel Laux) started on jayvees in the first meet and is doing a good job on varsity. She works taking care of animals at the Houghton County Fair and didn’t have much time to run before the season.”

Gogebic’s Natalie Stone placed fifth (22:14.4), two days after winning the Hurley (Wis.) Invitational, and Negaunee senior Endla Harrris took sixth (22:24).

The Westwood Invitational, the third WestPAC meet, takes place Tuesday.

Boys

Jeffers 29, Houghton 43, Negaunee 51, Westwood 108. Chassell, Hancock, Calumet, Ishpeming, Gogebic and Gwinn NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Cyrus Hamlin, Houghton, 18:03.4; 2, Judge Anderson, Negaunee, 18:05.5; 3, Tavin Larson, Jeffers, 18:18.8; 4, Landon Larson, Jeffers, 18:22.4; 5, Cameron Anderson, Jeffers, 18:27.6; 6, Brit Heinonen, Jeffers, 18:39.3; 7, Isaiah Lawson, Houghton, 18:43.9; 8, James Dank, Negaunee, 18:47.3; 9, Simon Jaklin, Negaunee, 18:50; 10, Birk Seagren, Houghton, 19:00.1.

Girls

Houghton 17, Hancock 64, Calumet 69, Negaunee 83. Chassell, Gogebic, Westwood and Ishpeming NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Lola Korpi, Ishpeming, 20:36.9; 2, Tessa Rautiola, Houghton, 21:15.5; 3, Lily Ross, Houghton, 21:39.7; 4, Claire Filpus, Houghton, 21:51.9; 5, Natalie Stone, Gogebic, 22:14.4; 6, Endla Harris, Negaunee, 22:24; 7, Ayla Miller, Houghton, 22:47.2; 8, Retta Boburka, Westwood, 23:01; 9, Jewel Laux, Houghton, 23:09.7; 10, Ella Keranen, Hancock, 23:19.5.