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RAPID RIVER -- It was a tight race for team titles here Wednesday as eight points separated the top three boys' and girls' cross country teams in the Rapid River Invitational.
The Rapid River girls earned the right to keep the traveling championship trophy at their school by scoring 38 points. They were followed by Forest Park 42 and Superior Central 46.
Forest Park retained the boys' title with 42 points, followed by Rapid River 48 and Rock Mid Peninsula 50.
"We had to bring the trophy back here, but didn't want to leave it here," Forest Park coach D.J. Rasner said. "Hats off to Rapid River and Mid Pen. Both schools have great programs. All three of us want the (Upper Peninsula) Finals trophy. It's going to take a lot of determination and guts to bring it home."
Superior Central freshman Edye Burdett won the girls' 3.1-mile race in 20 minutes, 24.9 seconds and Forest Park freshman Ellie Zaupa was runner-up at 21:21.4.
"I felt great today," Burdett said. "I really like this course, although I was hoping to push myself more. I'm really looking forward to the Finals and hopefully running a PR (personal record). It was super cold out there. I could really feel the wind. I wore cross country spikes, but they didn't work the greatest in the sand. I'll take that as a learning experience."
Rapid River sophomore Evonna LaCosse placed third in 21:40.9 and Superior Central junior Kendra Pederson took fourth (22:29.8). Sophomore Erika Tourangeau was Mid Pen's leader in sixth (22:46.2).
"The girls did a very good job," Rapid River coach Zach Truitt said. "They got a nice team score and did a good job running in a pack. Evonna's feet were bothering her and we had to take it easy with her the last couple days. The boys came up a little short today, but we'll be okay with that, especially if we win the Finals. Although, it's going to be tight."
Mid Pen sophomore Ashdeyn Gerow copped the boys' race at 17:36.5.
"I felt amazing," he said. "I came out of the woods sprinting. I kind of knew I'd get first coming in here. I'm a little scared going into the Finals, otherwise I'm excited. I know it's coming and it's right around the corner. I've definitely improved a lot. I took third last year's Finals. From that, I think it'll go a little better this year."
Forest Park junior Hayden Smith was runner-up in 18:26.1.
"I went out hard," he said. "I wanted us to take back that trophy. I saw him (Gerow) for the first two miles, then he picked up the pace. I thought I performed pretty well. We had perfect running conditions. There was no sun beating down on you. It was a good temperature and the wind wasn't too bad."
Mid Pen sophomore Eli Stiglitz took third (18:41.8) followed by Rapid River sophomore Owen Truitt (18:47.5) and freshman Brody Denkins (18:48.8) and Superior Central freshman Jaxon Klyk (18:56.3).
"We had a pretty good day," Mid Pen coach Carl Brunngraeber said. "The competition just makes everybody better. The U.P. (Division 3) Finals are going to be real competitive. Honestly, there's about 5-7 teams that could win it. That's what makes it fun."
Superior Central coach Stephanie Lovell was also happy with the way the Cougars performed.
"Edye ran a great race and all the girls behind her had PRs," she said. "Jaxon also made a great showing and finally got under 19. This was a good warm-up before the U.P. Finals."
The Finals take place Oct. 24 at Houghton.
Boys
Crystal Fall Forest Park 42, Rapid River 48, Rock Mid Peninsula 50, Stephenson 83, Carney-Nadeau 110, Superior Central and Escanaba Holy Name NTS.
Top 10 -- Ashdeyn Gerow, Rock Mid Peninsula, 17:36.5; 2, Hayden Smith, Crystal Falls Forest Park, 18:26.1; 3, Eli Stiglitz, Rock Mid Peninsula, 18:41.8; 4, Owen Truitt, Rapid River, 18:47.5; 5, Brody Denkins, Rapid River, 18:48.8; 6, Jaxon Klyk, Superior Central, 18:56.3; 7, Reuben Rasner, Crystal Falls Forest Park, 19:08.9; 8, Jae Poma, Rapid River, 19:11.7; 9, Trenton Cairns, Stephenson , 19:24.4; 10, Dietrich Rasner, Forest Park, 19:40.9
Girls
Rapid River 38, Crystal Falls Forest Park 42, Superior Central 46. Rock Mid Peninsula, Stephenson, Escanaba Holy Name NTS.
Top 10 -- 1, Edye Burdett, Superior Central, 20:24.9; 2, Ellie Zaupa, Crystal Falls Forest Park, 21:21.4; 3, Evonna LaCosse, Rapid River, 21:40.9; 4, Kendra Pederson, Superior Central, 22:29.8; 5, Avryl Van Oss, Crystal Falls Forest Park, 22:43.6; 6, Erika Tourangeau, Rock Mid Peninsula, 22:46.2; 7, Julia Poma, Rapid River, 22:52.3; 8, Ashlynn Thompson, Rapid River, 23:23.9; 9, Vivian Norden, Rock Mid Peninsula, 23:38.9; 10, Gabriella Putnam, Stephenson, 23:48.7.