RAPID RIVER — The boys race at the Rapid River Invitational high school cross country meet was nearly as close as could be here on a rainy Saturday morning as 7.3 seconds separated the top four finishers.

Munising sophomore Dan Goss, who covered the 3.1-mile course in 19 minutes, 9.5 seconds, edged Escanaba Holy Name sophomore Joe Carlson on a lean and by three-tenths of a second for top individual honors.

They were followed by Manistique senior Grant Mason in a personal-best 19:14.7 and sophomore teammate Ben Gilroy in 19:16.8.

“It was very close,” Goss said. “He slowed down very slightly. I didn’t think I was going to catch him.

“I like the rainy weather, and the course was well marked. I really wanted this race.

“He beat me by a lot the first time.”

Stephenson edged Manistique 29-34 for the team title, while Superior Central scored 62 points.

The Munising girls won with 27 points, followed by Stephenson with 43 and SC 57.

A number of other schools fielded runners, but not enough to post a team score, including Newberry.

“I knew he was coming up on me,” Carlson said about his close runner-up finish in the boys race.

“I could kind of hear him. This was definitely my best race so far. I worked on holding my pace. I didn’t think I would like these conditions, but I actually liked the weather.”

Mason and Gilroy were fresh from placing 1-2 respectively for the Emeralds at Wednesday’s St. Ignace Invitational.

“It definitely felt good to get first at St. Ignace,” Mason said. “I tried to get out quick and keep that pace, and it went pretty good. I probably should have kicked in it a little sooner.

“First through fourth was really close. Ben was right behind me.

“This was a nice, flat course, which was marked real good, and that helped a lot.”

Gilroy was also happy with his race.

“I think this was my best race this year,” he said. “I tried to stay with the leaders.

“This is my favorite course, and I liked the conditions. It was a little cold at first, but it felt comfortable once I got going.”

Newberry freshman Samantha Taylor won the girls race in 20:19.4, followed by Munising senior Monique Brisson (21:30.5), Newberry junior Kaylen Clark (21:49.8) and Manistique freshman Maya Carlson (22:44.2).

“I think this is a confidence builder,” Taylor said.

“I felt I did good. The rain made the sand a little harder. We weren’t sinking as much. I also wore spikes, and that helped me out.”

Stephenson’s Kayela Putnam took fifth (23:00.4), followed by Munising’s Hattie Cota (23:12.6) and Norway freshman Lauren Adams (23:15.8).