Corey Kelly | Marquette Mining Journal St. Ignace’s Rayanne Bigelow leaps over the high jump at the Superior Dome Division 2 track meet in Marquette Wednesday.

MARQUETTE — First-year coach Amy Nixon was encouraged with the performance by the Manistique girls’ track team here Wednesday.

The Emeralds, despite running without their seniors, placed third in the Ishpeming Invitational inside Northern Michigan University’s Superior Dome.

St. Ignace edged Hancock 78-71 for the title and the Emeralds scored 47 points.

“We did great, especially for not having our seniors,” she said. “We were seeded eighth and placed third. A lot of girls stepped up. I like to see the kids motivated and having fun. I’m very happy with our performance.”

For the Emeralds, Wednesday’s events came on the heels of Tuesday’s season-opening victory at Rapid River.

Sophomore Kayla Muth provided Manistique with its lone first in the 400-meter dash in one minute, 9.44 seconds in a race which the top six finishers were separated by less than 1 1/2 seconds.

Junior Megan Espinoza placed third in 3200 (14:36.67) and helped the Emeralds take second in the 800 relay.

“We improved our time from yesterday (Tuesday),” said Espinoza. “This is definitely different from running outdoors. It’s very dry in here. You can sometimes go into oxygen debt indoors. This is a cool atmosphere, though.”

Manistique junior Emilee McDaniel tied for second with Munising’s Kiira Paulson and Gwinn’s Emlly Curtice with a personal-best leap of 4-foot-7.

Bark River-Harris senior Hailee Demers placed second in the 55-meter dash in 7.87 seconds and 200 (28.4). Former BR-H student Ally Schultz, now a freshman at St. Ignace, won the 200 (27.66).

“We did some good things today,” said BR-H coach Katina Demers. “This was a great meet to get under our belts. This is so much different from running outdoors. The breathing is different. St. Ignace has a lot of depth. They’re a very good team.”

BR-H senior Gracie Peterson was runner-up in shot put with a personal-best toss of 31-4.

“I’ve been trying to use the glide form,” said Peterson. “I’m excited to see how it works outdoors. The ball we use in here is bigger. It’s also warmer in here. We threw in the gym a few times and I think it helped me today.”

Freshman Katie Viau provided BR-H with a third in the 55 hurdles (10.67).

The Ishpeming boys won with 139 points, followed by Newberry 106 and Norway 47.

Ishpeming’s Jonas Broberg won three events, taking the 800 (2:15.02), 1600 (4:59.46) and 3200 (11:00.15).

Newberry senior Jaylen James took the 200 (24.26), long jump (19-0) and helped the Indians take the 800 relay.

Manistique junor Alex Misniakewicz placed third in the 1600 (5:07.26) and helped the Emeralds take third in the 3200 relay.

BR-H visits Escanaba for today’s Delta County Invitational which starts at 3.

Manistique hosts its invitational Friday.