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SPALDING -- The Rock Mid Peninsula boys continued their last-season surge here Monday, earning top honors in the Powers North Central Invitational cross country meet with 25 points.
The Wolverines, who also won the Great Eskymos Chase Invite in Escanaba Oct. 1, were followed by Stephenson 51, Carney-Nadeau 68 and Kingsford 70 this time.
Kingsford, which had the only girls' team on this sunny and warm afternoon, tallied a perfect score of 15.
Florence-Niagara, Wis. sophomore Jaxon Courts, won the 3.1-mile race in 17 minutes, 17.9 seconds. He was followed by Mid Pen sophomores Ashdeyn Gerow in a personal-best 17:34 and Eli Stiglitz at 18:40.9.
"This is my highest finish this year," Stiglitz said. "I started a bit slow, but I'm just happy I could stay up with the leaders today. I was getting lower places than I wanted and was getting kind of bummed out. This is a big boost right now. I felt great today. It felt like I could have run another (5-K). I wore a different pair of cleats and felt like I had more traction. Practicing on hills helped us."
Mid Pen sophomore Briceson Roberts reached the top 10 in a personal-best 19:52.5.
"We had a good day," Mid Pen coach Carl Brunngraeber said. "Eli ran more relaxed and I think this is the strongest we looked running down the stretch. We also had two girls in the top five. I think we're heading in the right direction."
Kingsford junior Maria Murvich became the girls' champion at 20:32.4. She was followed by Forest Park freshman Ellie Zaupa (22:19.2) and Florence-Niagara senior Ina Holt (22:39.1).
"I like this course," Murvich said. "This is one of my favorites. It was a little hot out there, but not too bad. This is definitely a technical course. This is also a good tune-up for the GNC (Great Northern Conference) meet."
Mid Pen sophomore Erika Tourangeau placed fourth (23:31.8) and junior Vivian Nelson was fifth (23:32.8). They were followed by Kingsford junior Allison Deuter (23:37.8) and North Central sophomore Aline Norkoli (23:41.8).
"We had a lot of personal-bests," Kingsford coach Sarah Noasconi said. "The girls ran really well. They were prepared. Mid Pen has some good runners."
Several area teams are entered in today's Rapid River Invitational at 3:30 p.m. Kingsford travels to Menominee at Thursday's GNC meet.
"There will be good competition down there," Noasconi said. "Anything can happen."
Boys
Rock Mid Peninsula 25, Stephenson 51, Carney-Nadeau 68, Kingsford 70. Florence-Niagara, Crystal Falls Forest Park, Powers North Central, Manistique and Norway NTS.
Top 10 -- 1, Jaxon Courts, Florence-Niagara, 17:17.9; 2, Ashdeyn Gerow, Rock Mid Peninsula, 17:34; 3, Eli Stiglitz, Rock Mid Peninsula, 18:40.9; 4, Hayden Smith, Crystal Falls Forest Park , 18:54; 5, Zane Phillips, Florence-Niagara, 19:29.1; 6, Kaden Malone, Powers North Central, 19:29.8; 7, Landon Pivatto, Stephenson, 19:36.8; 8, Bentley Carter, Kingsford, 19:44.8; 9, Connor Guardiola, Florence-Niagara, 19:45.9; 10, Briceson Roberts, Rock Mid Peninsula, 19:52.5.
Girls
Kingsford 15. Crystal Falls Forest Park, Florence-Niagara, Rock Mid Peninsula, Powers North Central, Norway, Stephenson and Manistique NTS.
Top 10 -- 1, Maria Murvich, Kingsford, 20:32.4; 2, Ellie Zaupa, Crystal Falls Forest Park, 22:19.2; 3, Ina Holt, Florence-Niagara, 22:39.1; 4, Erika Tourangeau, Rock Mid Peninsula, 23:31.6; 5, Vivian Norden, Rock Mid Peninsula, 23:32.8; 6, Allison Deuter, Kingsford, 23:37.8; 7, Aline Norkoli, Powers North Central, 23:41.4; 8, Kaylee Baldwin, Norway, 23:45.9; 9, Gabriella Putnam, Stephenson, 24:09.8; 10, Kate Smith, Kingsford, 24:4