Gladstone players and coaches celebrate their fourth straight CC title. Curtosey Photo

NEGAUNEE — The Negaunee Invitational served a dual purpose for high school cross country runners here Tuesday.

First, it determined this year’s Mid-Peninsula Conference champions. It also marked the continuation of the WestPAC Conference series.

The Gladstone boys, who placed third overall, became M-PC champs for the fourth consecutive time with 39 points. Runner-up Ishpeming Westwood scored 44.

“It feels good to run hard on this course and go home with the conference championship plaque,” Braves’ senior Teagan Reynolds said. “We’re happy to do it for our school. It was kind of confusing to know where you were at with both conferences competing at the same time. It was definitely a faster field than it was last year. Both of the teams from the Keweenaw were very good.

Painesdale Jeffers won its fifth consecutive invitational meet with 42 points. The Jets were followed by Houghton 58 and Gladstone 79.

The Houghton girls won with 23 points, followed by Negaunee 56 and Calumet 61 in the third WestPAC meet this season.

A strong third mile helped Jeffers senior Cameron Anderson take the boys’ individual title, covering the challenging 3.1-mile course in 16:34.8.

Negaunee senior Henry Plummer took the M-PC title and placed second overall at 17:05.1 and Jeffers senior Landon Larson took third (17:26.1) in the third of five WestPAC meets

Reynolds was sixth in the M-PC and 12th overall in 18:40.6.

“Teagan had a pretty good race,” Braves’ coach Gary Whitmer said. “We were in a pack at the mile mark. Our guys were all within seven seconds of each other and they finished well. We placed five in the top 20 in a very competitive race. Winning the M-PC is a real nice accomplishment.”

Gladstone senior Max Beauchamp took eighth in the league and 16th overall (18:56.6), one place higher than classmate Grady Nelson (19:01.7).

Sophomore Kavin Jackson, who finished 28th overall (20:17.9), was Manistique’s leader.

“This has been a rough week,” Manistique coach Rebekah Gilroy said. “This was our push through tired week before we begin to taper off. The boys have been running very much as a pack. We’re right on track for the U.P. Finals.”

Negaunee junior Keira Waterman copped the girls’ league and overall titles at 20:38.9, followed by Houghton sophomores Sela Niska (20:53.3) and Holly Cooke (21:19.2).

Gladstone senior Lexi Gilbert placed ninth overall and fourth in the M-PC (22:20.6).

“This was a beautiful day and course,” she said. “This is probably my favorite course. It was pretty comfortable for running. I just tried to pass as many girls as I could. This is definitely a confidence builder. I was way faster today than I was on this course last year.”

Classmate Peyton Takkunen took fifth in the league and 10th overall (22:32.2).

“Our top two girls ran well,” Whitmer said. “I think all four of our girls ran personal-bests. They had solid races.”

The Braves are idle until Oct. 9 when they travel to Marquette for the Great Northern Conference meet. Manistique resumes in Monday’s Norway Invitational.

Negaunee Invitational

Boys

Painesdale Jeffers 42, Houghton 58, Gladstone 79, Ishpeming Westwood 85, Negaunee 96, Manistique 189, Hancock 201. Calumet, Gwinn, Ishpeming, West Iron County NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Cameron Anderson, Painesdale Jeffers 16:34.8; 2, Henry Plummer, Negaunee, 17:05.1; 3, Landon Larson, Painesdale Jeffers, 17:26.1; 4, Simon Jaklin, Negaunee, 17:48.6; 5, Kemper Gearhart, Ishpeming, 17:55.9; 6, Benjamin Hemmer, Houghton, 17:56.4; 7, Calvin Carlson, Ishpeming Westwood, 18:15.9; 8, Blake Heltunen, Painesdale Jeffers, 18:23.5; 9, Jared Waterman, Ishpeming Westwood, 18:27.1; 10, Branson Anderson, Painesdale Jeffers, 18:30.4.

Girls

Houghton 23, Negaunee 56, Calumet 61, Hancock 84, Ishpeming Westwood 125. Gladstone, West Iron County, Manistique, Ishpeming, Painesdale Jeffers, Republic-Michigamme, Gwinn NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Keira Waterman, Negaunee, 20:38.9; 2, Sela Niska, Houghton, 20:53.3; 3, Holly Cooke, Houghton, 21:19.2; 4, Norah Woodruff, Houghton, 21:31.1; 5, Nori Korsman, Negaunee, 21:47.4; 6, Sophie Mahoski, Ishpeming, 21:57; 7, Jovie Williams, Houghton, 22:15.1; 8, Elli Harju, Calumet, 22:17.8; 9, Lexi Gilbert, Gladstone, 22:20.6; 10, Peyton Takkunen, Gladstone, 22:33.2.

Mid-Peninsula Conference

Boys

Gladstone 39, Ishpeming Westwood 44, Negaunee 62, Manistique 107.

Top 10 — 1, Henry Plummer, Negaunee, 17:05.1; 2, Simon Jaklin, Negaunee, 17:48.6; 3, Kemper Gearhart, Ishpeming, 17:55.9; 4, Calvin Carlson, Ishpeming Westwood, 18:15.8; 5, Jared Waterman, Ishpeming Westwood, 18:27.1; 6, Teagan Reynolds, Gladstone, 18:40.6; 7, Beckon Jensen, Ishpeming Westwood, 18:49.5; 8, Max Beauchamp, Gladstone, 18:56.6; 9, Grady Nelson, Gladstone, 19:01.7; 10, Tyler Soderman, Gladstone, 19:09.8.

Girls

1, Keira Waterman, Negaunee, 20:38.9; 2, Nori Korsman, Negaunee, 21:47.4; 3, Sophie Mahoski, Ishpeming, 21:47; 4, Lexi Gilbert, Gladstone, 22:20.6; 5, Peyton Takkunen, Gladstone, 22:33.2; 6, Brynn Wiecich, Negaunee, 23:11.9; 7, Riley Conklin, Negaunee, 23:46.2; 8, Addy Hellum, Ishpeming Westwood, 24:17; 9, Adela Miller, Negaunee, 24:55.1; Madeline Rye, Ishpeming Westwood, 24:56.5.