Houghton’s Nori Klein (370)  and Sacred Heart Catholic’s Lily Froese (894) come down the hill of Swedetown trails Monday at the Copper Kings Cross Country Invite in Calumet. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)

CALUMET — The Houghton cross country teams finished on top of the team standings here Monday, sweeping both ends of the Calumet Copper Kings Invitational.

Houghton’s girls grabbed four of the top six places and scored 25 points. They were followed by Hancock with 73 and Calumet 118.

The Houghton boys edged Jeffers 33-37 for the title. Dollar Bay took third with 109 points.

Houghton junior Tessa Rautiola earned top individual honors by covering the hilly 3.1-mile course in 21:03.7 on this sunny, hot and humid afternoon at the Swedetown Recreation Area.

She was followed by senior teammate Roman Trevino Peterlin at 21:49.2 and Gremlins’ freshman Sela Niska (21:52.9).

“I think this is a good time for the conditions,” Rautiola said. “It was really hot. I just tried to get out hard and attack the hills. Everyone’s times weren’t as good as usual, and I think that was due to the heat.”

Ironwood senior Aubrey Smith took fourth (22:32.8) and Hancock senior Ella Keranen was fifth (22:45).

“I am really proud of the way the girls competed today,” said Hancock’s coach Jenn Smith. “The heat was oppressive, but the girls never gave up.”

Keranen knew Monday was going to be tough.

“We knew we had to go out smart and take advantage of the hills and pace ourselves,” she said. “That is what our coaches tell us.”

Gogebic senior Alyssa Shirkey was eighth (23:39.8) followed by senior Marlee Plaxco was Negaunee’s leader in ninth (23:42.8).

Chassell senior Kalvin Kytta took the boys’ title at 17:30.3 and Houghton senior Birk Seagren was runner-up (18:07.5).

“I didn’t want to sweat too much before the race,” Kytta said. “I didn’t want to do anything too much different. The heat didn’t help. This was not a PR (personal record) type day. You’ve got to realize everybody is battling the same things.”

Seagren was followed by Jeffers’ juniors Landon Larson (18:16.8) and Cameron Anderson (18:31.3) and Houghton’s Benjamin Hemmer (19:17.1) in a race where the course, including the starting and finish lines, was different from the past.

“My goal was to stay with Kalvin, but he was a little too fast today,” Seagren said. “Landon also pushed the pace. It’s good to have that competition. That’s what makes you better. I wasn’t real happy with my time. I think I could have had a little faster tempo. This is a classic cross country course. It’s kind of fun to change it up.”

Jets’ coach Sam Kilpela summed up his thoughts on the competition.

“It was a nice close battle,” he said. “They (Houghton) did a good job of winning some the battles within the race. There are a couple of spots on the trail where they dominated, and that made the difference. In the end, though, I am proud of the boys. They put up a good battle.”

Senior Zach Smith was Ironwood’s pacesetter in sixth (19:19.7) and junior Simon Jaklin was Negaunee’s leader in ninth (19:39.2).

“It was a hot day and tough conditions,” Ironwood coach Ben Schmandt said. “I’m happy with how our kids gutted it out. Overall, they did well. This was a growing meet. You always learn as you go on.”

Ironwood will join the other Copper Mountain Conference schools in Thursday’s Dollar Bay Invitational at the Chassell Ski Trails.

UP NEXT

Houghton is competing in Wednesday’s Stephenson Invitational which begins at 4 p.m. on the Dale Fountain Memorial Course in Banat.

Race results

Boys

Houghton 33, Painesdale Jeffers 37, Dollar Bay 109, Ishpeming Westwood 118, Gwinn 123, Negaunee 132, Ironwood 156. Calumet, Hancock, Chassell, Gogebic, Ishpeming and West Iron County NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Kalvin Kytta, Chassell, 17:30.3; 2, Birk Seagren, Houghton, 18:07.5; 3, Landon Larson, Painesdale Jeffers 18:16.8; 4, Cameron Anderson, Painesdale Jeffers, 18:31.3; 5, Benjamin Hemmer, Houghton, 19:17.1; 6, Zach Smith, Ironwood, 19:19.7; 7, Andrew Juntilla, Calumet, 19:23.9; 8, Brandon Van Karsen, Houghton, 19:35.4; 9, Simon Jaklin, Negaunee, 19:39.2; 10, Anderson Limkemann, Houghton, 19:50.4.

Girls

Houghton 25, Hancock 73, Calumet 118, Negaunee 123, Baraga 137, Chassell 154, Ironwood 157, Ishpeming Westwood 173, Gogebic 196, West Iron County 232. Dollar Bay, Ishpeming and L’Anse Sacred Heart Catholic NTS.

Top 10 — Tessa Rautiola, Houghton, 21:03.7; 2, Roman Trevino Peterlin, Houghton, 21:49.2; 3, Sela Niska, Houghton, 21:52.9; 4, Aubrey Smith, Ironwood, 22:32.8; 5, Ella Keranen, Hancock, 22:45; 6, Lily Ross, Houghton, 22:58.5; 7, Alena Pietila, Hancock, 23:09.4; 8, Alyssa Shirkey, Gogebic, 23:29.8; 9, Marlee Plaxco, Negaunee, 23:42.8; 10, Maija Keranen, Calumet, 23:44.3.