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HOUGHTON -- The Houghton Gremlins took care of their home course here Thursday by winning both ends of their cross country invitational.
Houghton's girls scored 35 points, followed by L'Anse 58, Negaunee 65 and Calumet 86.
The Houghton boys tallied 41 points. They were followed by Jeffers 74, Gladstone 76 and Negaunee 83.
Houghton junior Brandon Van Karsen won the 3.1-mile race on the Michigan Tech trails in 17 minutes, 35.2 seconds. He was followed by Ishpeming Westwood sophomore Calvin Carlson at 17:38.5 and Ishpeming senior Kemper Gearhart (17:50.6) on this mostly sunny, breezy and seasonably cool afternoon.
"This is a challenging course for sure," Van Karsen said. "I tried to use the downhills as much as I could (to gain speed). There were a lot of acorns out there. You had to watch your footing. It was a perfect day for running. The breeze felt good. I definitely cooled you down."
Gremlins' junior Holly Cooke earned top honors in the girls' race with a personal-best 19:53.4 and Negaunee freshman Julia Plaxco was runner-up (20:06.6).
"I'm pretty happy about that," Cooke said. "I was just running to get a good time. It felt good to go under 20. That was one of my goals. Hopefully, this will give me some momentum. The weather wasn't too bad."
Ewen-Trout Creek senior Bree Besonen placed third in a personal-best 20:11.5.
"I just tried to stay with the Negaunee girl and hang with the front pack," she said. "This is a pretty big confidence boost, plus our team is doing better. It was real good to get a look at this course before the U.P. Finals. This gives us a better idea what to expect."
Houghton freshman Emma Jukuri took fifth (21:18.7) followed by junior teammate Norah Woodruff (21:42.2) and L'Anse junior Lily Froese (21:43).
"I felt pretty good, but the wind definitely made it a challenge," Jukuri said. "I liked the conditions, but not at the starting line. It felt a little cold while we were waiting to start. I think I ran one of my better times. It felt good to run on our home course."
Gremlins' coach Traci Welch was understandably happier with the team's performance.
"Holly ran a fantastic race and Brandon put the hammer down in the last mile and is really running well," she said. "Our fourth and fifth runners are closing the gap. We have some of the nicest kids. They're very supportive of each other. We're hoping this is a momentum builder. Our number four guy went home sick, but the boys really stepped up. This feels good at the moment.
"We never see the Sault over this way, so you never know what you're going to get. Marquette is always going to be there and the Negaunee girls are improving."
The Gremlins travel to Gwinn for the WestPAC Conference Finals Wednesday.
Boys
Houghton 41, Painesdale Jeffers 74, Gladstone 76, Negaunee 83, Ishpeming Westwood 104, Menominee 128, Ironwood 202. Ishpeming, West Iron County, Dollar Bay, L'Anse, Hancock, Gwinn, Calumet Copper Island Academy, Watersmeet and Gogebic NTS.
Top 10 -- 1, Brandon Van Karsen, Houghton, 17:35.2; 2, Calvin Carlson, Ishpeming Westwood, 17:38.5; 3, Kemper Gearhart, Ishpeming, 17:50.1; 4, Bradley Klann, Menominee, 18:02.5; 5, Tyler Rule, Houghton, 18:02.7; 6, Branson Anderson, Painesdale Jeffers, 18:19.4; 7, Eduel Spencer, West Iron County, 18:27.7; 8, Chuck Cameron, Gladstone, 18:33.5; 9, Cole Ceane, Houghton, 18:48.7; 10, Charlie Blair, Gladstone, 18:50.2
Girls
Houghton 35, L'Anse 58, Negaunee 65, Calumet 86, Menominee 117. Ewen-Trout Creek, Gogebic, Painesdale Jeffers, Chassell, Baraga, Hancock, Dollar Bay, Ishpeming, Ishpeming Westwood, Ironwood and West Iron County NTS.
Top 10 -- 1, Holly Cooke, Houghton, 19:53.9; 2, Julia Plaxco, Negaunee, 20:06.6; 3, Bree Besonen, Ewen-Trout Creek, 20:11.5; 4, Winley Brandt, Menominee, 21:05.7; 5, Emma Jukuri, Houghton, 21:18.7; 6, Norah Woodruff, Houghton, 21:42.2; 7, Lily Froese, L'Anse, 21:43; 8, Sophie Mahoski, Ishpeming, 21:54.5; 9, Kwynn Voskuhl, L'Anse, 21:55.4; 10, Siri Jacobson, Gogebic, 21:57.6.