SAULT STE. MARIE — Gladstone senior Drew Hughes led area boys’ cross country runners here Saturday, placing third in the Sault Ste. Marie Invitational.

Sault freshman Gabe Litzner won the 3.1-mile race in 16 minutes, 49.54 seconds, followed by senior teammate Cody Aldridge (16:58.29) and Hughes (17:02.45).

Downstate South Lyon took the team title with 30 points, followed by Sault 50, Gladstone 64 and Manistique 103.

The South Lyon girls also won with 18 points, followed by Sault 56 and Munising 64.

Gladstone sophomore Aaron Hughes took 10th in the boys’ race at 18:10, followed by junior Tanner Howes 12th (18:21.66), senior Alex Eilola 24th (20:39.32) and freshmen Tyler Soderman 26th (20:46.26) and Teagan Reynolds 29th (21:11.81).

Senior Grant Mason was Manistique’s leader in 15th (18:39.15), followed by sophomore Ben Gilroy 17th (19:09.91), seniors Austin Mischell 32nd (21:43.74) and Jacob Berry 33rd (21:55.29) and sophomore Blake Mason 34th (22:17.14).

Newberry freshman Samantha Taylor won the girls’ race at 20:02,67, followed by South Lyon senior Adrianna Patanis (20:25.18) and freshman Kayla Ward (20:28.57).

Manistique sophomore Calista Watchhorn was the area pacesetter in 16th (24:20.99), followed by Gladstone freshman Payton Takkunen 20th (25:06.88), Manistique senior Clara Gilroy 23rd (26:05.7) and Gladstone sophomore Kristy Karl 25th (26:25.85), junior Kayla Farnes 26th (26:29.16) and freshman Lexi Gilbert 29th (28:07.31).