RAPID RIVER — Senior Ishmael Hernandez and the Rapid River boys took care of their home course here Saturday, earning top honors in their invitational cross country meet.

Hernandez covered the 3.1 miles in 18 minutes, 53 seconds. He was followed by Stephenson sophomore Griffin Brown (19:38.7) and Engadine sophomore Conrad Spieles (19:39.9).

“Looking at the competition, I knew it would be a good run,” said Hernandez. “I wanted to go out fast and try to challenge people to stay with me. I got banged up in football last night (in Friday’s 48-6 victory over Engadine). I had some knee pain, but it went away after a half-mile. I was then able to stride it out and try to catch the four-wheeler. It was great to win my last home meet. It was pretty warm out there, but once you get going you don’t really notice it.”

Rapid River and Stephenson scored 43 points apiece with the Rockets gaining the title on a sixth-runner tie-breaker. Munising edged Engadine 66-68 for third place.

“Our boys were real close with Stephenson,” said Rockets’ coach Zach Truitt. “Ishmael ran a good time. Munising has a very strong girls’ team. They do a great job with pack running, and (Mid Peninsula senior) Daisy Englund had a real good race. We tried a new timing system, and I think it worked well.”

Sophomore Grant Mason was Manistique’s leader in sixth (20.32.3), and North Central sophomore Jesse Sampson placed 10th (21:36).

Englund won the girls’ race in a season-best 22:02.8. She was followed by Stephenson senior Kylee Kuntze (22:48.6), Munising sophomore Hattie Cota (23:25.6), Mid Pen junior Landry Koski (23:31.8) and Rapid River senior Taylor VanOss (23:47.6).

“For the first two miles it was like ‘I got this,’ but then the sand hills slowed my momentum,” said Englund. “It got hot and very humid. Although, this is the best I felt all year. I felt I could keep a consistent, fast pace. This will help me for Tuesday (Munising Invitational) for sure.”

Munising, which placed five in the top 10, was crowned champion with 31 points. The Mustangs were followed by Mid Pen 64, Stephenson 65 and Engadine 69.

“Munising looks pretty tough,” said Mid Pen coach Mark Branstrom. “Daisy is running with a little bit of a chip on her shoulder. Landry is still growing, but doing well, and our eighth-grader, Tia Nummilien, is doing a nice job for us. We have those three and two more hard workers.”

After VanOss, Munising grabbed four of the next five spots with Nummilien taking eighth (24:29.6).

“Our girls are doing better with each meet,” said Munising coach Mark Kinnunen. “We have a great group of girls, and they’re fun to work with. Any one of these girls can take the top spot on our team. I think we’ll be very competitive in the U.P. (Division 3) Finals.”

Boys

Rapid River and Stephenson 43, Munising 66, Engadine 68. Manistique, Superior Central, Mid Peninsula, North Central NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Ishmael Hernandez, Rapid River, 18:53; 2, Griffin Brown, Stephenson, 19:38.7; 3, Conrad Spieles, Engadine, 19:39.9; 4, Nick Singer, Munising, 19:53.5; 5, Buckley Corey, Stephenson, 20:01.2; 6, Grant Mason, Manistique, 20:32.3; 7, Wyatt Flatt, Engadine, 20:42.8; 8, Larson Nebel, Munising, 20:54.1; 9, Don Strazzinski, Stephenson, 21:34.8; 10, Jesse Sampson, North Central, 21:36.

Girls

Munising 31, Mid Peninsula 64, Stephenson 65, Engadine 69, Superior Central 109. Manistique, Rapid River, North Central NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Daisy Englund, Mid Peninsula, 22:02.8; 2, Kylee Kuntze, Stephenson, 22:48.6; 3, Hattie Cota, Munising, 23:25.6; 4, Landry Koski, Mid Peninsula, 23:31.8; 5, Taylor VanOss, Rapid River, 23:47.6; 6, Monique Brisson, Munising, 23:58.5; 7, Sabryna Smith, Munising, 24:05.3; 8, Tia Nummilien, Mid Peninsula, 24:29.6; 9, Jenna Matson, Munising, 24:34.3; 10, Julia Prunick, Munising, 24:43.1.