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Westwood Patriots’ Heidi Meglathery, Elizabeth Williams finish 1-2 in girls race at Mid-Peninsula Conference meet

Westwood teammates Heidi Meglathery, right, and Elizabeth Williams lead the pack in the girls race at the Mid-Peninsula Conference high school cross country meet held Monday in Flat Rock. (Escanaba Daily Press photo by Todd Rose)

FLAT ROCK — The Gladstone boys were rewarded for a dominating performance here Monday as they captured their first Mid-Peninsula Conference cross country title.

Gladstone’s girls edged two-time defending champion Westwood, 28-31, for their first M-PC championship. Manistique had 79.

Gladstone, competing in the M-PC for the fourth year, grabbed seven of the top nine places in the boys meet and scored a near-perfect 16 points. The Braves, also longtime Great Northern Conference members, were followed by Westwood with 51 points and Manistique with 71.

The field was depleted, however, as both Ishpeming and Negaunee didn’t compete as they are under quarantine due to coronavirus pandemic. The Hematites had won the boys title for the past three years, while Westwood had done that for the last two seasons in the girls meet.

“It has been a long time coming,” said Braves coach Gary Whitmer, who has served in that capacity since 2004. “We hadn’t won a conference since I’ve been here. Our kids ran well today. I think this was our best overall performance all season.”

Westwood's Ted Hair leads the way in the boys race at the Mid-Peninsula Conference high school cross country meet held Monday in Flat Rock. (Escanaba Daily Press photo by Todd Rose)

Westwood sophomore Heidi Meglathery won the girls’ 3.1-mile race at Richer’s farmhouse in a personal-best 20 minutes, 43.1 seconds on a partly sunny and unseasonably cool day. She was followed by senior teammate Elizabeth Williams in 21:08.6 and Gladstone juniors Jamisyn Bergeron at a season-best 22:03.1 and Samantha Stasler in 22:12.3.

“When I saw the finish line, I definitely pushed it,” Meglathery said. “My goal was to get under 21 (minutes), and I was on pace the whole time.

“I feel bad for (freshman) Lola (Korpi of Ishpeming) because she had such a great season and didn’t get to finish it out. Although I’m definitely glad to have this opportunity. It was nice for running.”

Bergeron also liked Monday’s conditions.

“The colder weather definitely made it easier to breathe,” she said. “I just felt a lot better today than when it was hot. I was trying to get under 22 (minutes). At least now I know I can do better.”

A trio of Westwood runners, from right to left, Jacob Jestila, Micah Milano and Jacob Johnson, head a pack during the boys race at the Mid-Peninsula Conference high school cross country meet held Monday in Flat Rock. (Escanaba Daily Press photo by Todd Rose)

Sophomore Clara Gilroy was Manistique’s leader in 10th place in a personal-best 23:54.1.

“We’re bringing home five medals (three boys and two girls),” Emeralds coach Rebecca Gilroy said. “The kids ran pretty well today. This was a good race leading up to the (Upper Peninsula) Finals. We’re looking forward to Saturday.”

In the boys race, Gladstone sophomore Drew Hughes won in a personal-best 16:54.3. He was followed by junior teammate Giovanni Mathews in 17:36.2 and senior brother Lucas Hughes at a personal-best 17:57.

“I tried to get into a steady pace,” Drew said. “Only I didn’t expect to go that fast. When I heard my two-mile split (10:50), Coach told me I was on the ropes to break 17 (minutes), and I decided to pick it up. The weather conditions were perfect.”

Lucas Hughes was clocked in 11:23 at two miles.

“At that point, I felt I had a shot at breaking 18 (minutes),” he said.

Gladstone senior Blake Krouth took fourth in 19:00.1, while Westwood sophomore Ted Hair was fifth in 19:14.1.

“We changed the course a little, and I think the kids liked the change,” Whitmer said. “Gio was real excited about his time and where he finished. I’m proud of the way the kids ran. I feel badly for Ishpeming and Negaunee. It’s unfortunate they didn’t get to compete in this year’s M-PC meet.”

Sophomore Grant Mason was Manistique’s pacesetter in 10th (20:14.5).

Gladstone and Westwood are entered in Saturday’s Upper Peninsula Division 1 Finals at Marquette, and Manistique goes to Gaastra (near Crystal Falls) for the D-2 Finals.

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