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ESCANABA -- It was Rapid River's day here Thursday as it claimed both cross country titles in the Great Eskymos Chase.
The Rapid River boys scored 49 points, followed by Rock Mid Peninsula 61 and Menominee 82.
Rapid River tallied 54 points in the girls' meet and Kingsford squeezed past Superior Central for the runner-up spot.
"This feels real good," Rapid River sophomore Julia Poma said. "We weren't expecting it. A couple of our girls getting into the 23s really helps. We've been working on form and technique. We're going into the (Skyline Central) conference meet with momentum."
Sophomore Owen Truitt says the Rapid River boys were looking to move up in the standings.
"We've been trying to catch Engadine and we finally pulled it off," he added. "We and Mid Pen have been going back and forth. The conditions were nice. It was a little warm, but everybody's running in it."
Mid Pen sophomore Ashdeyn Gerow earned top individual honors among the boys, covering the 3.1-mile course at the Escanaba Country Club in 17 minutes, 45.1 seconds. He was followed by Menominee freshman Bradley Klann at 17:55.5, Kingsford senior Cavan Mulligan (18:02), Truitt in a personal-best 18:26.2 and Engadine junior Nate Stielstra (18:44.5).
"I had no strategy," Gerow said. "I did what the coaches said. The hills are small, but they add up after a while. Running on a golf course hurts, but there's also an advantage to it. On sharp turns, I always glance back. I was feeling pretty confident. Cross country is always going to hurt. The lines of people along the course help because they offer some encouragement."
Newberry senior Abby Taylor became girls' champion at 19:27.6. She was followed by Superior Central freshman Edye Burdett in a personal-best 19:32.5 and Kingsford senior Maria Murvich at 19:50.8, also a PB.
"I felt better today than I did at Negaunee," she said. "I felt a lot stronger. Having all the competition helped. This is the first time I ran against Maria this year. I think it was exciting. I was glad to have somebody here to push me."
Burdett said she was super happy with her time.
"Abby caught me at the 800 (meter) mark," she added. "I told myself I was going to stick with her. Maria gets me to go out there quick and Abby makes me finish quick. I'm super thankful for all the girls around here."
Superior Central coach Stephanie Lovell was happy with the teams' overall performances.
"All of our girls PRd," she said. "They're learning how to push themselves. It was a beautiful day for running. The cool weather made it comfortable. Edye had one heck of a race. Quite a few girls dropped 40 seconds or more. It's a fast course."
Newberry sophomore Molly McNamara placed fourth (20:02.9) followed by Menominee senior Winley Brandt (21:05.2) and Rapid River sophomore Evonna LaCosse (21:46.7).
"It feels great for us to win as a team," LaCosse said. "I wasn't feeling the greatest. I've been having some stomach issues, but it feels amazing to be part of this. I like the weather. I do better in colder weather."
Sophomore Avah Akerly was Esky's pacesetter in seventh at 22:17.7.
"I went out a little faster than usual because the course was flat," she said. "I definitely got into a rhythm. I'm starting to come back a little."
Mid Pen coach Carl Brunngraeber was pleased with the Wolverines' performances.
"It was a good meet," he said. "Rapid River ran amazing. They're a great team. They deserve it. We had a good day. Cason (Brunngraeber) ran a PR by about 40 seconds. We just have to get healthy and keep working."
Cason Brunngraeber took 16th at 20:07.8, just ahead of Carney-Nadeau sophomore Lane Mellen who was clocked at 20:15.3, also a PR.
"All of our times were better today," C-N coach Paul Polfus said. "It's such a mental game. Lane's PR is very encouraging. We tried to do some infield running this week. We want fresh legs when we get to Houghton (for the Upper Peninsula Division 3 Finals)."
The Wolves will be running in Wednesday's Skyline Central meet at Banat.
Boys
Rapid River 49, Rock Mid Peninsula 61, Menominee 82, Stephenson 102, Superior Central 106, Kingsford 117, Carney-Nadeau 128. Engadine, Escanaba, Holy Name and Norway NTS.
Top 10 -- 1, Ashdeyn Gerow, Rock Mid Peninsula, 17:45.1; 2, Bradley Klann, Menominee, 17:55.5; 3, Cavan Mulligan, 18:02; 4, Owen Truitt, Rapid River, 18:26.2; 5, Nate Stielstra, Engadine, 18:44.5; 6, Eddie Franckowiak, Engadine, 18:45.7; 7, Jaxon Klyk, Superior Central, 19:00.3; 8, Eli Stiglitz, Rock Mid Peninsula, 19:07.8; 9, Jae Poma, Rapid River, 19:16; 10, Brody Denkins, Rapid River, 19:16.9.
Girls
Rapid River 54, Kingsford 60, Superior Central 61, Menominee 83, Newberry 86.
Top 10 -- 1, Abby Taylor, Newberry, 19:27.6; 2, Edye Burdett, Superior Central, 19:32.5; 3, Maria Murvich, Kingsford, 19:50.8; 4, Molly McNamara, Newberry, 20:02.9; 5, Winley Brandt, Menominee, 21:05.2; 6, Evonna LaCosse, Rapid River, 21:46.7; 7, Avah Akerly, Escanaba, 22:17.7; 8, Kendra Pederson, Superior Central, 23:09.8; 9, Julia Poma, Rapid River, 23:17.2; 10, Erika Tourangeau, Rock Mid Peninsula, 23:36.5.