EBEN JUNCTION — Following runner-up finishes in their first two cross country meets, the Superior Central Cougars are ready to see what they can do in upcoming meets.

Both of their teams were runners-up to the host team in Monday’s Gladstone Invitational.

The Braves recorded a perfect score in their lone home meet this season at Flat Rock. The Superior Central girls scored 58 points and the boys edged Gwinn 63-64.

“The girls actually didn’t do too bad,” coach Holly McDonnald said. “Gladstone is not normally in our district, but it’s nice to get an idea of what else is out there. It was definitely good practice. This gives us a good idea of where we’ll be.”

The Cougars, who have 11 boys and six girls on their roster, host their invitational Saturday at 10 a.m. in Eben Junction.

Cougars’ Junior Kiuera McDonnald placed seventh at Flat Rock, covering the 3.1-mile course in 30:21.51. Freshman Elaina Karvinen took eighth (33:14.36) and Emma Stoliecki was 10th (33::49.66).

Joining them are junior Rowan Allender, who’s nursing a knee injury, and freshmen Isabella “Kiera is our oldest girl,” coach McDonnald said. “She’ll be our leader. Rowan ran well as a freshman. She and Kiera are good pacesetters. Almost all our kids were slower than they expected to be in our first meet (Gwinn Invitational). Although, I don’t think that was a bad thing. That was a challenging course. It was a good first meet for us. It was nice because it was close for us. I hope they’ll do it again. We’re excited to have our four freshmen. We’ll be able to have a team score.”

For the boys, junior Cody Moore was Superior Central’s pacesetter in Flat Rock, placing sixth in 20:23.86.

“Cody had a phenomenal sophomore year,” coach McDonnald said. “He loves to run and is very good at it. Our boys ran as a pack and did a good job pushing each other. The Gladstone kids know how to run the course and they run together. We like running on their course. The Gladstone and Gwinn kids did a good job.”

Also on the varsity team are classmates Carter Korpi, Jack Kasen, Clay Horrne, Cole Ozoga, Isaac Gleason and Joseph Augustyn.

After their invitational, the Cougars ravel to Banat for Wednesday’s Stephenson Invitational.

Remaining schedule

Sept. 14 — Superior Central Invitational; Sept. 18 — Stephenson Invitational at Banat; Sept. 21 — Rapid River Invitational; Sept. 24 — El Harger Invitational at Munising.

Oct. 3 — Escanaba Invitational; Oct. 7 — Norway Invitational; Oct. 10 — SCC meet at Banat; Oct. 14 — Powers North Central Invitational; Oct.19 — U.P. D-3 Finals at Munising.