Ewen-Trout Creek runner Bree Besonen comes across the finish line first Wednesday at the Kilpela Farm in Atlantic Mine during the Jeffers Invitational. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette) 

ATLANTIC MINE — The crack of the starting gun in late August at Kilpela Farm in Atlantic Mine can only mean one thing – the area’s cross country season is off and running, and it was Wednesday.

More than 10 high school teams made the trek to the Kilpela Farm’s scenic course, which is the home trails of Jeffers cross country for the Jeffers Invitational.

In the girls’ division, the Calumet team won with a score of 44. L’Anse followed close behind with a score of 49, and Ewen-Trout Creek came in third with a score of 56.

Bree Besonen, of Ewen-Trout Creek, was the top finisher for the girls. She came in with a time of 22:09. Behind her was Elli Harju, of Calumet, with a finish of 22:43 and L’Anse’s Princess Pierre was third with a time of 22:56.

“I did slip a couple of times, but nothing major,” said Besonen after her first-place finish. “I have been working hard this summer and am happy with my time. I was happy with my pace.”

The sophomore added that she would take a cooler, wet course over a hot muggy day in August.

Erin Dicarlo, the coach of the L’Anse cross country team, was also pleased with her team’s first showing of the season.

“I am super happy with the girls’ performance,” she stated. “I liked their perseverance and push in this meet. They finished strong

Princess (Pierre) is just a sophomore and came in third. She has a bright future in front of her.”

Coach Arnie Kinnunen, of Calumet, noted that numbers will be key to the Copper Kings winning success this season. It was spotlighted with a first-place girls’ finish on Wednesday.

“We have 19 girls who push each other and want to get better in practice,” stated Kinnunen. “Alexa Hoffman ran her first race today as a junior and came in fourth. So that is so good to see.”

On the boys’ side, the Jeffers Jets had a perfect score of 15 (top-five finishers) to win the meet. Dollar Bay-Tamarack City came in second with a score of 51, and Ironwood took third place with a score of 66.

Jeffers runner Cam Anderson was first across the finish line with a time of 17:46. He was followed by teammates Landon Larson (18:09) and Branson Anderson, who came in at 18:55.

Cam noted that running at home certainly has its advantages.

“I’ve been here a few times,” the 12fth-grader quipped. “It was muddy, but I am happy with my time.”

Coach Ben Schmandt, of Ironwood, was also pleased with the effort his boys put in towards a third-place finish.

“This is the launching point for the season,” he stated. “I like to tell the kids we want to have our best times at the end of the season. That is when we want to PR (personal record).”

Top finishers Cam Anderson (right) and Landon Larson (left), both from Jeffers, make their way to the finish line at the Kilpela Farm in Atlantic Mine during the Jeffers Invitational. (Eddie O’Neill/Daily Mining Gazette)