BANAT — Coach Gary Whitmer was pleased with the performance by the Gladstone cross country teams in the Stephenson Dale Fountain Invitational here Wednesday.

The boys were runners-up and the girls placed third on this sunny and hot afternoon.

“I’m happy with where we finished, especially the girls,” he said. “Joselyn (Mills) had a nice race. I wish she could have made it to Holly. We had only one medal down there, although few of the guys were close. Most of the kids ran PRs (personal records) today. I think this will give us momentum for Munising (Tuesday’s El Harger Invite).”

Houghton’s boys were crowned champions with 31 points. They were followed by Gladstone 60 and Stephenson 86.

The Houghton girls, who placed four among the top five, won with 18 points. Marinette was runner-up at 61 and the Braves had 79.

“I was happy with how our teams performed,” Houghton coach Traci Welch said. “It was nice to compete with different teams and see how we can do against other Division 1 teams. The girls ran together as a nice pack and Birk ran a real strong race. Only, we need to close the gap with our No. 4 and 5 runners on both teams.”

Houghton junior Tessa Rautiola copped the girls’ race, covering the 3.1-mile course in 20:32.1. Escanaba senior Alisha Mabie placed second at 21:09.8.

“It actually felt hotter today than on Monday because there’s more open areas down here,” Rautiola said. “There was a little more shade at Calumet. This course is flatter, but still has its challenges. There wasn’t any real amount of shade until the last mile.”

Mabie was followed by Houghton senior Roman Trevino Peterlin (21:31), freshman Sela Niska (21:42.1) and senior Lily Ross (21:42.2).

“I wasn’t particularly happy with today’s race,” Mabie said. “I kind of blew up after the first mile. I was super thirsty. I had kind of an off day, although that’s no excuse. I needed to hydrate a little more. I’m just excited about the next race.”

Mills placed ninth (23:43.3) and Rock Mid Peninsula sophomore Aesara Lupinski took 12th (24:01.1).

Houghton senior Birk Seagren took the boys’ race at 17:33.6, followed by Stephenson junior Canon Kuntz (18:50.9).

Senior Wes Knauf was North Central’s pacesetter in sixth (19:25.4) and junior Max Beauchamp was Gladstone’s leader in eighth (19:37.1).

Senior William Weise led Esky in 12th in 19:52.

Boys

Houghton 31, Gladstone 60, Stephenson 86, Marinette 92, Menominee 100, Florence-Niagara, Wis. 149. Carney-Nadeau, Escanaba, Crystal Falls Forest Park, Escanaba Holy Name, Norway, Goodman-Pembine, Wis., Powers North Central, Rapid River and Rock Mid Peninsula NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Birk Seagren, Houghton, 17:33.6; 2, Canon Kuntze, Stephenson, 18:50.9; Brayden Bourion, Menominee, 18:53.3; 4, Benjamin Hemmer, Houghton, 18:53.5; 5, Jackson Draheim, Marinette, 19:07.6; 6, Wes Knauf, Powers North Central, 19:25.4; 7, Brandon Van Karsen, Houghton, 19:26; 8, Max Beauchamp, Gladstone, 19:37.1; 9, Anderson Limkemann, Houghton, 19:41; 10, Teagan Reynolds, Gladstone, 19:45.1.

Girls

Houghton 18, Marinette 61, Gladstone 79, Stephenson 103, Rapid River 127, Florence-Niagara, Wis. 148. Escanaba, Escanaba Holy Name, Menominee, Norway, Goodman-Pembine, Wis., Powers North Central and Rock Mid Peninsula NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Tessa Rautiola, Houghton, 20:32.1; 2, Alisha Mabie, Escanaba, 21:09.8; 3, Roman Trevion Peterlin, Houghton, 21:31; 4, Sela Niska, Houghton, 21:42.2; 5, Lily Ross, Houghton, 22:10.6; 6, Addison Lacy, Marinette, 22:31.1; 7, Faith Cappaert, Stephenson, 22:43.7; 8, Winley Brandt, Menominee, 23:21,3; 9, Joselyn Mills, Gladstone, 23:43.6; 10, Norah Woodruff, Houghton, 23:49.8.