Spencer Giroux of Ishpeming finishes in second place during the boys race at the Mid-Peninsula Conference high school cross country meet held at the Negaunee Township trails on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. (Journal photo by Steve Brownlee)

NEGAUNEE — Cross country is a sport that doesn’t change much and certain programs seem to go head to head on the course each season.

That happened again Thursday at the Mid-Peninsula Conference meet as the host Negaunee Miners and Ishpeming Hematites fought for the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in both the boys and girls races. Not surprisingly, the two teams split the meet as Ishpeming won the boys race and Negaunee took first in the girls race.

In the 6-team boys race, the Hematites finished with 29 points, while Negaunee finished second with 56 and Gladstone took third with 60. Gladstone’s Adam Bruce was the top individual finisher with a time of 16:42, while Ishpeming runners Spencer Giroux (17:21) and Jonah Broberg (17:24) took second and third place respectively. Gladstone’s Jake Strasler (17:28) and Negaunee’s Eric Anderson (17:32) rounded out the top five. Negaunee’s Colton Yesney was neck-and-neck with Bruce before pulling up near the halfway point and didn’t finish.

Over in the 5-team girls race, the Miners won the race with 27 points with the Hematites taking second with 52 and Westwood third with 68. Negaunee’s Emily Paupore was the individual champion with a time of 19 minutes, while teammate Clara Johnson took second at 20:07 and Westwood’s Tessa Leece finished third at 21:32. Ishpeming’s Katie Loman (22:04) and Negaunee’s Natalie Bartle (22:25) took fourth and fifth place respectively.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Writer Ryan Stieg. His email address is rstieg@miningjournal.net.