NEGAUNEE — The Houghton cross country teams took care of business here Wednesday, sweeping both ends of the WestPAC Conference title.

Houghton’s girls placed six among the top 11 and scored 25 points. Hancock edged Negaunee 56-64 for runner-up honors.

The Houghton boys were also crowned champions as they placed five in the top nine and finished with 27 points, followed by Negaunee 61 and Ishpeming Westwood 87.

“The boys just run so tightly together,” Houghton coach Traci Welch said. “The depth is there. Birk Seagren is getting stronger in every meet. They work real well together as a team and encourage each other. It’s the same way with the girls. Lily Ross has been sick all year but continues to hang in there tough. All seven of them can do real well.”

Ishpeming senior Lola Korpi won the 3.1-mile race in 19 minutes, 45.4 seconds on this sunny and seasonably cool afternoon at the Negaunee Township Hall.

“I felt really strong,” she said. “This was my last (time) running on this course. I came in with the attitude of giving it my all. Before the meet I had an undershirt on, but decided to take it off. I’m glad I did that because it was comfortable running without it. At 2 1/2 miles I knew I would be under 20.”

Houghton junior Roman Peterlin placed second at 20:20.4, followed by sophomore teammate Tessa Rautiola (20:25), Negaunee junior Marlee Plaxco in a season-best 21:01 and Hancock junior Ella Keranen (21:11.2).

Peterlin was coming of a runner-up finish in a personal-best 20:59.8) in Monday’s Houghton Invitational.

“I hydrated yesterday for sure, but my legs were tired from Monday,” she said. “I was excited for that race. I started running to stay in shape for basketball. I do better on hills than the average person, although I prefer a flat course. This is a more comfortable day than we had Monday.”

Seagren won the boys’ race in a personal-best 17:30.4, followed by Ishpeming freshman Kemper Gearhart (18:01.9), Houghton sophomore Ben Hemmer (18:10.8), Negaunee sophomore Simon Jacklin at a personal-best 18:15.5 and junior teammate Michael Slawinski (18:34.8).

“This is a big boost going into the U.P. (Division 1) Finals,” Seagren said. “We had a meet Monday, but I tried not to overdo it and save it for today’s race. I tried to take the corners as tight as I could ran as fast as I could on the downhills, which I tried to use to my advantage without overdoing it. This is why you do it. You get to enjoy the fall colors and get some exercise. This was a perfect day for it.”

Negaunee coach VIckie Poupore said she was pleased with the Miners’ performance.

“Both teams had some fantastic PRs (personal records),” she added. “Running times like that is what you want to see as a coach. I think we have a chance to compete for the M-PC title (at Manistique Monday).”

The Upper Peninsula Finals take place at Flat Rock Oct. 21.

Boys

Houghton 27, Negaunee 61, Ishpeming Westwood 87, Ishpeming 97, Hancock 107, Gwinn and West Iron County NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Birk Seagren, Houghton, 17:30.4; 2, Kemper Gearhart, Ishpeming, 18:01.9; 3, Ben Hemmer, Houghton, 18:10.8; 4, Simon Jacklin, Negaunee, 18:15.5; 5, Michael Slawinksi, Negaunee, 18:34.8; 6, Isaiah Lawson, Houghton, 18:39.5; 7, Levi Nicholls, Ishpeming, 18:58.2; 8, Colin Van Karsen, Houghton, 19:11; 9, Lane Laux, Houghton, 19:14.8; 10, Roman Yuhas, Ishpeming Westwood, 19:20.

Girls

Houghton 25, Hancock 56, Negaunee 64, Ishpeming Westwood 88, West Iron County 148, Ishpeming NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Lola Korpi, Ishpeming, 19:45.4; 2, Roman Peterlin, Houghton, 20:20.4; 3, Tessa Rautiola, Houghton, 20:25; 4, Marlee Plaxco, Negaunee, 21:01; 5, Ella Keranen, Hancock, 21:11.2; 6, Rayna Towles, Hancock, 21:18.4; 7, Lily Ross, Houghton, 22:14.8; 8, Katie Sarau, Houghton, 22:21.1; 9, Retta Boburka, Ishpeming Westwood, 22:29.3; 10, Jovie Williams, Houghton, 22:40.