RAPID RIVER — Eleven years had passed since the Rapid River girls were last crowned regional track champions.

The Rockets returned to the top of the Division 3 standings here Thursday, however, with 64 points. They were followed by Mid Peninsula 39 and Munising 27.

“We were very strong today,” said Rockets’ coach Greg Rubick. “At one time, we had won this 14 years in a row and may have started to take it for granted. After going this long without winning a regional, you learn to appreciate it that much more. I’m extremely proud of the girls. Before the meet, we told the girls if we performed well, we had a shot at it. They did that and exceeded expectations. Munising has good middle distance and distance runners, and Mid Pen has two fine athletes in Daisy Englund and Landry Koski.”

The Rapid River boys also won with 64 points, followed by Munising 52 and Superior Central 22.

“We’re pumped and excited,” said Rapid River coach Steve Ostrenga. “On paper, we knew it’d be real close. There’s some events we didn’t cover, but our kids really stepped up.

“Across the board, our boys and girls had great attitudes and gave a great effort. I thought (athletic director) Luke Bero ran a nice regional. We appreciate the timing system and all the parents and coaches who helped us.”

Rapid River sophomore Monica Thibault had a hand in four firsts, taking the 100-meter hurdles in 19.35 seconds, 300s (54.49) and helping the winning sprint relays on this partly cloudy, warm and breezy day.

“My starts went real good,” she said. “I was happy to have the wind on my back going out because it gave me a little more momentum. Although, the wind made it challenging coming into the finish. Otherwise, the weather was pretty good. It wasn’t too hot or too cold. This gives me a lot of confidence going into the U.P. Finals. I’m also excited about the (Skyline Central) conference meet.”

Rockets’ senior Morgan Anderson was a double-winner, taking shot put at 32 feet, 7 1/2 inches and discus (99-5). Junior Gabby Moss added a first in long jump (14-11), and classmate Addie Christoff took pole vault (7-6).

“We’re going in 15 events,” said Rubick. “Anytime you can do that, you’re going to pile up the points, which is a real tribute to the girls.”

Koski captured the 400 (1:07.32), 1600 (6:07.98) and 3200 (13:99.99), and Englund won the 100 into a stiff breeze (14.07) and 800 (2:34.5) and was runner-up in long jump (14-1).

“The meet went pretty well,” said Koski. “I did what I hoped to do. Our handoffs could have gone a little better in the 800 relay, although I feel our team is pretty strong. One of our disc throwers qualified which is pretty exciting. I’m happy with how our team did. It’s crazy because the season has gone by so fast, and the U.P. Finals are just a couple weeks away. I’m glad it was overcast. Otherwise, it could have been real hot.”

Munising won the 1600 relay, and Sabryna Smith took the 200 (30.08).

Engadine got its lone first on sophomore Leah French’s leap of 4-6 in high jump.

The Rapid River boys had four-event winners in seniors Ben Lenaker and Ishmael Hernandez.

Lenaker, who set a school record in the 400 (51.18) at Munising May 14, won at 52.8 this time. He also took long jump (20-9) and helped the winning 1600 and 3200 relays Thursday.

“Once I got around the last corner in the 400, the wind slowed me down,” said Lenaker. “Although, the weather doesn’t really matter. It doesn’t make or break a race. It felt great to get the school record, though. At first, I didn’t think I got it. It was unbelievable.”

Hernandez, also part of those relays, copped the 800 (2:20.4) and 1600 (5:22.01).

“This is the first time I’ve won out through four events,” he said. “I’m very excited about that. The seniors have never lost a regional. It’s great to end that way on our track.”

Senior Max Lenaker took high jump (6-0). Junior Logan Lancour added a first in pole vault (11-0), and senior Parker Dausey captured discus (130-6).

The Rockets welcomed back senior Griffin Flath and junior Rease Dawley, who had been nursing leg injuries.

“We’re happy to have them back,” said Ostrenga. “Griffin is a big part of our relays. Max had been jumping six feet in practice, but this is the first time he did it in a meet. Ben had a nice personal best in long jump, and Logan and Parker did a nice job getting personal bests (in pole vault and discus). Hats off to Greg and the girls for also winning the regional.”

Munising’s Micaiah Peramaki won the 100 (12.04) and 200 (24.05). Jesse Duran added a first in 110 hurdles (21.16) for the Mustangs, who grabbed the top three places.

“Rapid River is awfully deep and talented,” said Munising coach Matt Mattson. “Our boys did all right, and the girls did better than we expected. The places we got in the 110 hurdles were big points for us. Overall, we had a pretty good day.”

Superior Central swept the sprint relays. Engadine sophomore Conrad Spieles took the 300 hurdles (48.27) and 3200 (11:50.64), and Drew French won shot put (40-8).

Division 3 regional

At Rapid River

Boys

Rapid River 64, Munising 52, Superior Central 22 1/2, Republic-Michigamme 21, Engadine 17, Big Bay de Noc 1 1/2.

3200 relay — 1, Rapid River (Hernandez, B. Lenaker, McCarty, M. Lenaker), 9:07.12; 2, Munising.

110 hurdles — 1, Duran, Mun, 21.16; 2, Bowerman, Mun; 3, McNally, Mun; 4, L. Frusti, SC.

100 — 1, Peramaki, Mun, 12.04; 2, Lawrence, R-M; 3, Z. Frusti, SC; 4, Anderson, Mun.

800 relay — 1, Superior Central (McLaury, Swetich, Maki, Collier), 1:41.85; 2, Rapid River; 3, Munising.

1600 — 1, Hernandez, RR, 5:22.01; 2, DuPont, R-M; 3, McCarty, RR; 4, Mulye, Mun.

400 relay — 1, Superior Central (Z. Frusti, McLaury, Maki, Johnson), 47.48; 2, Munising; 3, Rapid River.

400 — 1, B. Lenaker, RR, 52.8; 2, Dyer, R-M; 3, VanZandt, Mun; 4, Horwitz, RR.

300 hurdles — 1, Spieles, E, 48.27; 2, Durant, Mun; 3, McNally, Mun; 4, Hardwick, RR.

800 — 1, Hernandez, RR, 2:20.4; 2, Skogman, R-M; 3, Kulik, SC; 4, Horwitz, RR.

200 — 1, Peramaki, Mun, 24.05; 2, Lawrence, R-M; 3, Taylor, RR; 4, Swetich, SC.

3200 — 1, Spieles, E, 11:50.64; 2, McCarty, RR; 3, Mulye, Mun; 4, Moore, RR.

1600 relay — 1, Rapid River (Hernandez, B. Lenaker, M. Lenaker, Lundquist), 3:48.23; 2, Republic-Michigamme; 3, Munising.

High jump — 1, M. Lenaker, RR, 6-0; 2, Durant, Mun; 3, Gillespie, BB and Z. Frusti, SC (tie).

Pole vault — 1, Lancour, RR, 11-0; 2, Bowerman, Mun.

Long jump — 1, B. Lenaker, RR, 20-9; 2, Lawrence, R-M; 3, Z. Frusti, SC; 4, Sundling, RR.

Shot put — 1, French, E, 40-8 1/2; 2, Wymer, Mun; 3, Dausey, RR; 4, Nance, E.

Discus — 1, Dausey, RR, 130-6; 2, K. Frusti, SC; 3, Peramaki, Mun; 4, Nance, E.

Girls

Rapid River 64, Mid Peninsula 39, Munising 27, Engadine 22, Superior Central 12 1/2, Republic-Michigamme 6 1/2, Big Bay de Noc 4.

3200 relay — 1, Rapid River (Dausey, Porter, Goodacre, VanOss), 11:59.89; 2, Engadine.

100 hurdles — 1, M. Thibault, RR, 19.35; 2, Johnson, SC; 3, Jones, BB; 4, White, E.

100 — 1, Englund, MP, 14.07; 2, Moss, RR; 3, Smith, Mun; 4, Nummilien, MP.

800 relay — 1, Rapid River (Christoff, M. Thibault, McCarty, Moss), 1:56.78; 2, Mid Peninsula; 3, Superior Central.

1600 — 1, Koski, MP, 6:07.98; 2, Brisson, Mun; 3, Matson, Mun; 4, VanOss, RR.

400 relay — 1, Rapid River (Christoff, M. Thibault, McCarty, Moss), 56.15; 2, Superior Central.

400 — 1, Koski, MP, 1:07.32; 2, Smith, Mun; 3, Nummilien, MP; 4, Goodacre, RR.

300 hurdles — 1, M. Thibault, RR, 54.49; 2, Paquin, E; 3, White, E.

800 — 1, Englund, MP, 2:34.5; 2, Matson, Mun; 3, Brisson, Mun; 4, Loebach, E.

200 — 1, Smith, Mun, 30.08; 2, Nummilien, MP; 3, McCarty, RR; 4, Christoff.

3200 — 1, Koski, MP, 13:39.99; 2, VanOss, RR; 3, Brisson, Mun; 4, French, E.

1600 relay — 1, Munising (Johnson, Matson, Brisson, Smith), 4:51.79; 2, Rapid River; 3, Engadine.

High jump — 1, French, E, 4-6; 2, Johnson, SC and Jones, BB (tie); 4, Paquin, E.

Pole vault — 1, Christoff, RR, 7-6; 2, Hickman, RR.

Long jump — 1, Moss, RR, 14-11; 2, Englund, MP; 3, Crandall, E; 4, Rutter, SC.

Shot put — 1, Anderson, RR, 32-7 1/2; 2, McCracken, R-M; 3, Pearson, RR; 4, Rutter, E.

Discus — 1, Anderson, RR, 99-5; 2, McCracken, R-M; 3, Salmi, MP; 4, Zdebski, E.