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Negaunee girls, Ishpeming boys win M-PC track titles

GWINN — The Negaunee girls maintained their stranglehold on the Mid-Peninsula Conference track title Thursday, scoring 162 points.

Negaunee, crowned champion for the ninth consecutive year, was followed by Iron Mountain 81 and Ishpeming 76.

“I was very happy with our performance,” said Negaunee coach Vickie Popour. “Our long jump surprised me. We also had one girl (Talon Prusi) go under six minutes in the 1600 for the first time and Abbie Tollefson had an excellent showing in discus.”

The Ishpeming boys won with 115 points, followed by Negaunee 101 and Westwood 94 1/2.

“We’ve been running strong,” said third-year Ishpeming coach P.J. Pruett. “We made a few changes before the (Division 2) regional and they’re working. The guys are focused. They were quiet on the bus coming here. We went up against three good D-1 teams and came out on top. This is the biggest victory in my coaching career. We can’t ask to be in a better position going into the U.P. Finals. We weren’t perfect, but got good results.”

Negaunee sophomore Emily Paupore won the girls’ 1600 in five minutes, 22.23 seconds, 3200 (11:40.03) and helped the winning 3200 relay (10:41.88) on this warm and humid day at McCormick Field.

“You’re so focused on the (Upper Peninsula) Finals which makes it hard to get up for the M-PCs,” said Emily, who indicated she was disappointed in her 3200 time. “We had some hard practices this week. I wanted to run solid races, but didn’t want to burn myself out. I’m trying to keep my head up and stay positive.”

Senior teammate Clara Johnson, also part of the 3200 relay, was runner-up in the 1600 (5:36.74) and 3200 (12:32.9) with Prusi third in the 1600 (5:52.54).

Sophomore Chloe Norman added firsts in the 300 hurdles (48.31) and long jump at 15 feet, three inches, beside helping the winning relay and Tollefson was runner-up in discus with a personal-best throw of 102 feet, five inches.

“Emily and Clara have been steady all year,” said coach Paupore. “Our seniors have been fantastic leaders and role models all season and Chloe ran a season-best in the 300s.”

Manistique junior Ashley McDonald had every reason to smile after taking pole vault with a personal-best leap (9-0), 1 1/2 feet higher than in the Division 2 regional at home May 18.

“I held the pole about a foot higher and changed my steps,” said McDonald, who also anchored the winning 1600 relay (4:29.7). “My confidence had been down since the regional, then I had a real good practice Wednesday and that gave me some confidence coming into today’s meet.”

McDonald was also runner-up in the 400 (1:04.46) and anchored the second-place 800, clocked at a season-best 1:57.94.

“We had probably our best handoffs all year in the 800 relay,” she added.

Emeralds’ coach Dylan Jaskolski said he was generally pleased with the team’s effort.

“Today we’re taking our lumps, but the girls are doing okay,” he added. “We had some good performances. Both teams are running well. We have a good system in place and been getting good results.”

Iron Mountain’s Olivia Berutti won the 100 hurdles (16.97) and 200 dash (28.27) and helped the winning 400 relay (53.2).

Westwood’s Tessa Leese was a double-winner, taking the 800 (2:33.37) and high jump (5-0).

Senior Saige Sisson was Gladstone’s high finisher, placing second in shot put (32-9).

The Ishpeming boys had a double-winner in Logan Kruhlik, who captured shot put (41-4 3/4) and discus (121-9 1/2).

Manistique sophomore Schyler Andersen was runner-up in shot with a personal-best toss of 41-4 and disc (114-3).

Senior Darin Johnson provided Gladstone with its lone first in long jump (20-1 1/4).

“That was a good jump for Darin,” said Braves’ coach Gary Whitmer. “We’ve been hit with the flu bug. We had a lot of guys sick. We had to revamp our relays and hold some kids out of events. I’m glad it happened now and not at the (Division 1) Finals.”

Gladstone junior Adam Bruce didn’t run Thursday due to a strained calf muscle.

Negaunee senior Colton Yesney copped the 1600 (4:32.54) and 3200 (10:17.68), placed second in the 800 (2:06.97) and third in the 400 (53.95).

“I wasn’t too worried about time,” he said. “I just ran for place. I ran four races and was a little tired in the end. It was very humid, but our coach (Kevin Bell) said you can’t let the conditions dictate what you do.”

Westwood’s Ethan Burke took the 100 (11.82) and 400 (52.01).

Iron Mountain’s Mike Kulas captured the 800 (2:00.66) and helped the winning 3200 relay (8:39.05) and junior Charlie Gerhard copped the 100 hurdles (16.18) and 300s (41.81).

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