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ST. IGNACE -- High school cross country runners were put to a test on a course which offered a variety of challenges here Monday.
The Mackinaw City boys and Cheboygan girls headed across the Mackinac Bridge with the team titles from the St. Ignace Kiwanis Silver Mountain Invitational on this sunny and mild late afternoon.
Cedarville-DeTour senior Ethan Snyder became the individual champ in the boys' 3.1-mile race in 20 minutes, 51.7 seconds on this hilly course which included plenty of turns and roots and stretches of tricky footing.
He was followed by Pickford senior Jacob Mitchell (21:19.1) and St. Ignace junior Wyatt Huhn (21:31.1).
Junior Kavin Jackson was Manistique's leader in 15th at 24:33.2. Senior teammate Matt Clark took 21st at 25:11.2 and sophomore Trent Mason was 23rd (25:21).
"Our top three boys are packed pretty close together," Manistique coach Rebekah Gilroy said. "The kids have been dropping time except for today. This is a very tough course, especially with having to do two laps. We've been running hills, prepping for Houghton (Upper Peninsula Finals). We've been doing pack running and heart-rate training. We have some up and coming runners coming from St. Francis de Sales. We have a lot to look forward to."
The Mackinaw City boys scored 37 points, followed by St. Ignace 64 and Cheboygan 71.
Cheboygan's girls finished with 28 points. They were followed by Brimley 45 and St. Ignace 53.
Manistique didn't field complete teams.
Cedarville freshman Paget Hinnen took the girls' title at 25:59. She was followed by Engadine sophomore Sarah Chapman (26:18.9) and Cheboygan senior Cloee Rupp (27:20.6).
"I thought I was going pretty fast until I got here (end of first lap)," Chapman said. "When our coach told me my time, it was kind of a letdown. Although, this was a good workout. I think this will probably help my speed."
St. Ignace junior A.J. Feleppa took fourth in 27:35.9.
"It helped to have home course advantage," she said. "We knew what was out there. It's so hilly. You almost have to ignore your time. I'm happy with the way I ran. I think this will help me go faster."
Boys
Mackinaw City 37, St. Ignace 64, Cheboygan 73, Brimley and Pickford 91. Manistique, Engadine and Cedarville-DeTour NTS.
Top 10 -- 1, Ethan Snyder, Cedarville-DeTour, 20:51.7; 2, Jacob Mitchell, Pickford, 21:19.1; 3, Wyatt Huhn, St. Ignace, 21:31.1; 4, Darren Johnson, Brimley, 22:36; 5, Russell Abernathy, Cheboygan, 22:38.1; 6, Knox Wilson, Mackinaw City, 22:50.3; 7, Nate Stielstra, Engadine, 23:03.7; 8, Liam Bohn, Cedarville-DeTour, 23:03.7; 9, Eddie Franckowiak, Engadine, 23:13.6; 10, Clayton VanOrman, Mackinaw City, 23:21.7.
Girls
Cheboygan 28, Brimley 45, St. Ignace 53. Cedarville-DeTour, Engadine, Pickford, Manistique and Mackinaw City NTS.
Top 10 -- 1, Paget Hinnen, Cedarville-DeTour, 25:59; 2, Sarah Chapman, Engadine, 26:18.9; 3, Cloee Rupp, Cheboygan, 27:20.6; 4, A.J. Feleppa, St. Ignace, 27:35.9; 5, Briahna Campbell, Cheboygan, 27:47.4; 6, Genevieve Hanna, Cedarville-DeTour, 28:26.5; 7, Lillian Carrick, Brimley, 28:46.9; 8, Ella LaRocque, Cheboygan, 28:48.9; 9, Karly Grant, St. Ignace, 29:53.3; 10, Audrey Whealy, Brimley, 29:55.