ESCANABA — Josh Granquist of Powers set the pace in the Escanaba Fall Classic Half-Marathon here Saturday, covering the 13.1 mile course in 1:24:55.4.

He was followed by women’s champion, Amanda Wojan of Gaylord, at 1:32:49.6, Nathan Jackels of Maple Grove, Minn. (1:33:21.9) and Andrew Bracket of Gladstone (1:39:02.1).

“She (Wojan) did a great job,” Granquist said. “It took a lot of years for me to get where I’m at. I thank the Lord for what I can do. My goal was sub 1:20, but I’m happy with what I did today.

Granquist’s goals include qualifying for the Boston Marathon and doing the Marji Gesick 100-mile run in Marquette next year. He ran his personal-best marathon time (2:53) at Eau Claire, Wis. this year.

“I was just a few minutes short of qualifying for Boston,” he said. “It was a tough course, but it was fun.”

In the women’s race, Wojan was followed by Skylen Powell of Houghton Lake, Mich. (1:48:58.1) and Erin Bourion of Iron Mountain (1:51:14.9) on this sunny and seasonably cool morning.

“I wanted to run a strong and steady pace,” Wojan said. “I like the course and we couldn’t ask for a better day for running. I had a good day and it was a good race.”

Matt Johnson of Marquette recorded his first victory in the 5-K, covering the 3.1-mile course in 18:50.2, followed by Josh March of Iron Mountain (18:52.6) and Jeff Derkos of Escanaba (19:55.8).

“My strategy was to not go out too fast,” Johnson said. “I started out in sixth place, then started going up toward the front. We were neck and neck from the midway point to 2½ miles, then I pushed it to the finish. I just ran my own race. We had ideal conditions with temperatures in the 50s. It was a beautiful day.”

Amber Anderson of Niagara, Wis. retained her title at 22:57.1. She was followed by Tia Zahn of Niagara (25:14.7) and Kaylyn Rice of Iron Mountain (26:06.4).

“I started at a quick pace and tried to maintain it and kick it in at the end,” Anderson said. “It was good motivation coming in here as a defending champion. I enjoyed the race and the weather conditions were perfect.”

The event drew 137 runners and walkers.

5-K

Male

Top two — 1, Matt Johnson, Marquette, 18:50.2; 2, Josh March, Iron Mountain, 18:52.6.

11-14 — Kellan Tweiten, Ironwood, 21:22.5; 15-19 — Spencer Garrett, McMillan, 31:31.8; 20-29 — Jared Baij, Marquette, 21:08.3; 30-39 — Ryan Lobeck, Dunbar, Wis., 25:31.8; 40-49 — Jeff Derkos, Escanaba, 19:55.8; 50-59 — Todd Lafave, Escanaba, 25:44.7; 60-69 — Mark McGinnis, Appleton, Wis., 29:38.7.

Female

Top two — 1, Amber Anderson, Niagara, Wis., 22:57.1; 2, Tia Zahn, Niagara, Wis., 25:14.7.

11-14 — Lilionna Dugree, Norway, 26:49.6; 15-19 — Hannah Claycomb, Rapid River, 27:56.5; 20-29 — Aly Claycomb, Marquette, 28:31.8; 30-39 — Kaylyn Rice, Iron Mountain, 26:06.4; 40-49 — Valerie Lamarch, Negaunee, 31:11.8; 50-59 — Amy Fudala, Gladstone, 27:03; 60-69 — Diane Holmes, Menominee, 28:11.7.

Half-marathon

Male

Top three — 1, Josh Granquist, Powers, 1:24:55.4; 2, Nathan Jackels, Maple Grove, Minn., 1:33:21.9; 3, Andrew Bracket, Gladstone, 1:39:02.1.

20-24 — Erik Albertus, Boulder Junction, Wis., 2:15:31.8; 25-29 — Chandler Pizzi, Marquette, 2:00:07.1; 30-34 — Will Benoit, Vicksburg, Mich., 2:03:35.7; 35-39 — Matthew Potthast, Manitowoc, Wis., 1:43:20.4; 40-44 — Steven Bosse, Cincinnati, Oh., 1:53:56.1; 50-54 — Mike Morrow, Stephenson, 1:48:09.4; 60-64 — Taylor Polomis, Edina, Minn., 1:44:09.7; 65-69 — Jim Crowell, Kalamazoo, 1:55:59.9; 70 & over — James Christiansen, Marquette, 2:42:39.6.

Female

Top three — 1, Amanda Wojan, Gaylord, 1:32:49.6; 2, Skylen Powell, Houghton Lake, Mich., 1:48:09.7; 3, Erin Bourion, Iron Mountain, 1:51:14.9.

15-19 — Elisabeth Carlson, Escanaba, 2:04:55.8; 20-24 — Olivia Wise, Boulder Junction, Wis., 2:14:37.9; 25-29 — Hannah Roster, Buckley, Mich., 1:52:42; 30-34 — Lauren Young, Escanaba, 2:01:12.4; 35-39 — Melodie Alexander, Marquette, 1:54:354\.4; 40-44 — Jessica Schmitt, Vero Beach, Fla., 2:02:05; 45-49 — Mary Schlicht, Ishpeming, 2:53:39.2; 50-59 — Annalisa van Sistine, Oshkosh, Wis., 2:18:07.6; 60-64 — Susi Hurley, Marquette, 2:34:41.6.