IRON MOUNTAIN — The Marquette Sentinels overwhelmed the field here Thursday, sweeping both ends of the Great Northern Conference cross country title.

Marquette’s boys, who grabbed the top seven places, scored a perfect 15 points. They were followed by Gladstone 59 and Menominee 92.

The Marquette girls placed seven in the top eight and finished with 19 points, followed by Kingsford 48 and Gladstone 71.

Marquette’s top six boys’ runners basically finished together on this sunny and mild afternoon at the Iron Mountain City Park.

Junior Rorik Holmquist won in 18:11.9, followed by seniors Chase Thomsen, Seppi Camilli and James Barch and junior Peter Argeropoulos, who shared runner-up honors at 18:12.1 on the hilly 3.1-mile course.

“It was a team effort,” Holmquist said after his first varsity cross country victory. “It felt great to run together. Our whole game plan was six of us coming in together. We didn’t want to burn ourselves out. I’d say this is a big momentum builder going into the U.P. (Division 1) Finals.”

The Finals take place Oct. 19 at Munising.

Gladstone junior Max Beauchamp was the highest area finisher in ninth (19:00) and Escanaba junior William Weise took 10th (19:04.5).

“I think the boys did real well,” Gladstone coach Gary Whitmer said. “They (Marquette) all ran together and put the time in. They’re a big school. They’d be Division 1 downstate and we’d be in D-3. Although, you can’t say too much. There’s not much you can do about it.

“I think the hills beat up the girls a little. I think the break will help us out.”

Marquette senior Maija Maki-Warne also earned her first career triumph at 21:27.2.

“That was really exhilarating,” she said. “I’m very excited. I’m really looking forward to the Finals. I don’t think I could have asked for a better ending to my high school cross country career. The Finals are going to be tough. Houghton has a good team.”

Sentinels’ coach Derek Marr said he was very happy for Maija. “This has been a long time coming,” he added. “Maija trained hard during the summer. We’ve been working with her on how to keep up her energy.

Kingsford freshman Maria Murvich took second (21:43.2), followed by Marquette junior Ella Fure (21:48.9), senior Chloe Miller (22:26.6) and freshman Evelyn Grant (22:51.3).

“I’m happy with how the race went,” Murvich said. “I think I may have started a little too strong, although I felt I had to start fast. I think this is definitely a momentum builder going into the Finals. We’ll probably rest over the weekend and go back to work Monday.”

Esky senior Mary Hook placed 10th (23:45.6) and junior Payton Takkunen was Gladstone’s pacesetter in 13th (25:21.9).

“I think it went very well,” Esky coach Scott Dykema said. “Mary did very well and is getting stronger. The other kids are also getting stronger. Sickness and injuries bombarded us for a while. I think we’re past that point.”

Boys

Marquette 15, Gladstone 59, Menominee 92, Escanaba 100, Kingsford 119.

Top 10 — 1, Rorik Holmquist, Marquette, 18:11.9; 2, Chase Thomsen, Seppi Camilli, James Barch and Peter Argeropoulos, Marquette, 18:12.1 (tie); 6, Evan Balko, Marquette, 18:12.2; 7, Matthew Tripp, Marquette, 18:32; 8, Brayden Bourion, Menominee, 18:45.8; 9, Max Beauchamp, Gladstone, 19:00; 10, William Weise, Escanaba, 19:04.5

Girls

Marquette 19, Kingsford 48, Gladstone 71, Escanaba and Menominee NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Maija Maki-Warne, Marquette, 21:27.2; Maria Murvich, Kingsford, 21:43.2; 3, Ella Fure, Marquette, 21:48.9; 4, Chloe Miller, Marquette, 22:26.6; 5, Evelyn Grant, Marquette, 22:51.3; 6, Monet Argeropoulos, Marquette, 22:59.2; 7, Violet Papin, Marquette, 23:17.3; 8, Eryn Veverka, Marquette, 23:18.9; 9, Winley Brandt, Menominee, 23:38; 10, Mary Hook, Escanaba, 23:45.6