Mid Peninsula's Daisy Englund races to second place during the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 3 Finals in girls cross country on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, at Pictured Rocks Golf Club in Munising. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MUNISING — Superior Central junior Danika Walters took advantage of an opportunity to shine on a cloudy, chilly and blustery Saturday, earning her first Upper Peninsula Division 3 cross country title at Pictured Rocks Golf Club.

Walters covered the 3.1-mile course in 20 minutes, 37.9 seconds, followed by Mid Peninsula sophomore Daisy Englund (20:57.5), Chassell senior Lela Rautiola (21:32.8) and Mid Pen freshman Landry Koski (21:43.8).

“I took a little more conservative approach today and tried to keep up with the Chassell girl (Rautiola),” said Walters. “I put on a surge at the mile mark and kept that pace. It basically feels great to be a U.P. champion, although it hasn’t quite set in yet.

“I took third at Norway last week and I think it motivated me. Having competition from Daisy and Landry I think helped me today.”

Chassell, which grabbed five of the top nine places, retained its title with 25 points. The Panthers were followed by Cedarville 84 and Mid Pen 95.

“I thought it went pretty well,” said Mid Pen coach Mark Branstrom. “We had a pretty good finish with the young ones at the top. Daisy and Landry were spectacular. Chassell was unbelievable and Cedarville did a great job. The weather was terrible, but it was terrible for everybody.”

Englund, fresh from winning at Norway, came in as defending U.P. champion.

“I’m pleased with how I ran,” she said. “Danika just took off at the two-mile mark. I tried to stay behind her, use her to break the wind and put my head down. We hadn’t seen Cedarville all year. We didn’t know what to expect from them. We did good. We’re proud of the season we had.”

Sault Ste. Marie captured the D-1 crown for the second time in three years with 56 points. Marquette and Houghton had 66 apiece, with the Redettes taking second on a tie-breaker.

Negaunee junior Emily Paupore retained her title at 19:58.5, followed by Marquette junior Ericka Asmus (20:30.5), Houghton senior Anabel Needham (20:34.1) and Westwood junior Tessa Leeca, last year’s D-2 champion (20:40.1).

Freshman Ciara Ostrenga paced Escanaba in 16th (21:30.9) and Gladstone freshman Jamisyn Bergeron was 30th (22:59.9).

“The temperature started dropping by the time the girls ran,” said Braves’ coach Gary Whitmer. “The kids had to stay on the bus and stay warm. We had a 10-minute warm-up to help get the girls ready and I was impressed with their willingness to go out there and run. I’m real happy with their attitude.”

Hancock grabbed six of the top 12 spots, taking its first D-2 championship in five years with 26 points. The Bulldogs were followed by defending champion St. Ignace 62 and Munising 79.

St. Ignace senior Elizabeth Becker won in 20:46, followed by Munising senior Madeleine Peramaki (21:09) and Ironwood senior Emily Carey (21:17.9).

Senior Ashley McDonald led Manistique in 22nd (23:50.1).