Sault Ste Marie senior Gabe Litzner wins at Escanaba Inivte on Oct. 2, 2025 at Ludington Park. (Adam Hinch/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — It was a tough day for area cross country runners and teams as they finished well behind the leaders in the Escanaba Eskymos Invitational here Thursday.

Marquette swept both ends of the title on this sunny and mild afternoon at Ludington Park.

The Marquette boys grabbed six of the top 10 spots and scored 26 points. They were followed by Sault Ste. Marie 39 and Stephenson 128.

Marquette’s girls placed four in the top 10 and had 29 points, followed by Sault 45 and Stephenson 82.

“We ran tough,” Marquette coach Kyle Detmers said. “I’m happy with everybody. We had some younger kids ran varsity and our depth showed. A lot of things can happen in two weeks. It’s going to be tight. Jim (Sault coach Martin) does a great job with his program.”

Marquette senior Ella Fure won the 3.1-mile race in 19:20.4.

“My strategy was to get out hard and I felt good the whole race,” she said. “This is a big confidence builder right now. This is my third fastest time. I had mono for about a month this summer and wasn’t sure I’d be able to run this fall. I got hit pretty hard. That was the worst I felt in my life. I just train every race. I thank God for giving me the strength to do this.”

Fure, who ran a personal-best 18:35 at downstate Shepherd last weekend, was followed by Kingsford sophomore Maria Murvich at 20:43.7 and Marquette freshman Emma Ziegler (21:01.5).

“I tried, but she’s very strong,” Murvich said. “I hung with her for a mile, then she picked up the pace. I just need to work a little harder and train a little faster. I have a course marked. I’ll be doing some interval training. This wasn’t my best time, but it’s the best I could do today. I want to stay with Ella longer in the GNC meet (Thursday in Marquette) and break 20 minutes.”

Stephenson senior Faith Cappaert placed seventh (21:41.2) and Menominee senior Winley Brandt was ninth (22:04.2).

Esky freshman Evey Bevins the area’s pacesetter in 19th (23:47) and Rapid River freshman Julia Poma was 20th (23:52.6)

Sault senior Gabe Litzner, an Oakland University recruit, took the boys’ title at 16:07.9 and Marquette senior Rorik Holmquist placed second (16:11.8).

“I just really wanted it down the stretch,” Litzner said. “I had some injuries and took a week off about two weeks ago. I’m also having chronic fatigue issues. I’m a little out of shape, but starting to come back. I think racing is helping me out. I didn’t take it easy when I should have. I’m beginning to realize this is better than not running at all.”

Holmquist came up with a strategy about halfway through the race.

“We both have a strong kick,” he said. “I wanted to get some separation and he was about a yard behind me at the bottom of the hill (with approximately a half-mile left). It was close, then he passed me with about 300 meters to go.”

Stephenson senior Canon Kuntze placed 11th (18:33.9).

Rapid River junior Jon Denkins led area runners in 20th (19:28.2). Esky sophomore Kingston Berube was 22nd (19:29), followed by Rapid River freshman Owen Truitt (19:38.5) and Superior Central senior Cody Moore 24th (20:00.9).

Many of the area’s smaller schools are running in Monday’s Norway Invitational.

Superior Central is hosting the Skyline Central Conference meet on Oct. 8 with Marquette hosting the GNC meet a day later.

Boys

Marquette 26, Sault Ste. Marie 39, Stephenson 128, Kingsford 134, Superior Central 145, Rapid River 150, Escanaba 170, Escanaba Holy Name 180, Carney-Nadeau 248. Munising, Menominee, Carney-Nadeau

Top 10 — 1, Gabe Litzner, Sault Ste. Marie, 16:09.7; 2, Rorik Holmquist, Marquette, 16:11.8; 3, Peter Argeropoulos, Marquette, 16:19.7; 4, Lucas Ballard, Marquette, 17:06.6; 5, Shea Armstrong, Sault Ste. Marie, 17:10.3; 6, Chase Aldridge, Sault Ste. Marie, 17:55.8; 7, Cavan Mulligan, Kingsford, 17:59.5; 8, Beepsee Teeple, Marquette, 18:10; 9, Luke Skytta, Marquette, 18:18.7; 10, Garrett Crimmins, Marquette, 18:23.

Girls

Marquette 29, Sault Ste. Marie 45, Stephenson 82, Kingsford 96, Rapid River 136, Superior Central 147. Menominee, Powers North Central, Escanaba Holy Name NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Ella Fure, Marquette, 19:20.4; 2, Maria Murvich, Kingsford, 20:43.7; 3, Emma Ziegler, Marquette, 21:01.5; 4, Isabelle McCord, Sault Ste. Marie, 21:27.9; 5, Cora Goulet, Sault Ste. Marie, 21:29; 6, Esme Ulland-Joy, Marquette, 21:38.3; 7, Faith Cappaert, Stephenson, 21:41.2; 8, Regan Sporte, Sault Ste. Marie, 21:50; 9, Winley Brandt, Menominee, 22:04.2; 10, Ava Cantway, Marquette, 22:06.9.