Ishpeming High School runner Lola Korpi continued her cross country dominance, winning the M-PC meet by nearly 40 seconds, finishing in 21 minutes, 4.4 seconds. (Photo courtesy of Jill Korpi)

By Journal Sports Staff

ISHPEMING — Negaunee came within an eyelash of sweeping the Mid-Peninsula Conference Meet in high school cross country on Monday afternoon at Al Quaal Recreation Area in Ishpeming.

The Miners did win the girls meet fairly easily, scoring 25 points with the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers. Gladstone was runner-up with 42, while Westwood had 56. Ishpeming and Manistique also entered runners, but not enough for team scores.

But Gladstone thwarted the Negaunee sweep by winning the boys meet by a single point with 36 points to 37 for NHS.

As in the girls meet, the Miners had the second-, third- and fourth-place finishers, but Gladstone actually outdid them with four runners placing in the top 10.

Manistique was third with 63 points as Westwood had 82. Ishpeming and Gwinn didn’t score.

Back in the girls meet, the Hematites’ Lola Korpi continued her dominance, winning the title by nearly 40 seconds by clocking 21 minutes, 4.4 seconds.

Marlee Plaxco led the Miners’ contingent as runner-up in 21:41.9, while teammates Endla Harris was third in 22:19.6 and Lauren Ossenheimer fourth in 22:26.4.

Ishpeming’s Taylor Longtine was next in fifth in 22:39.2, with Westwood’s Retta Boburka sixth in 22:41.4.

The Hematites could’ve had a solid team score with a fourth runner as the team’s Laynie Korpi was their third finisher in the top 10 in eighth place in 23:36.4.

The Patriots’ Baylie LaVigne rounded out the top 10 in 10th in 24:11.0.

In addition, Negaunee’s fourth and fifth finishers just missed the top 10, with Seere Helms-Gleason 12th in 24:31.8 and Emily Marker 13th in 24:36.8.

Manistique’s first finisher was Calista Watchhorn in 17th in 26:21.1.

For the boys, Gladstone’s Drew Hughes remained dominant, winning his race by more than 80 seconds in 17:40.2.

Negaunee’s James Dank was second in 19:01.6, while teammate Judge Anderson was third in 19:16.8 and the Miners’ John Plaxco fourth in 19:33.2.

With the next three runners coming from Gladstone, the top 10 was rounded out by the fastest runners from three area schools — Ishpeming’s Levi Nicholls was eighth in 20:48.7, Manistique’s Grant Mason ninth in 20:52.1 and Westwood’s Ted Hair 10th in 21:02.0.

Just missing the top 10 was a pair of Emeralds — Ben Gilroy was 11th in 21:10.3 and Austin Mischell 12th in 21:22.2.

Westwood’s Patrick Klumpp was 15th in 21:44.8, while Gwinn’s first finisher was Thomas Jenkins, 16th in 21:45.3.

Area teams and other teams from around the Upper Peninsula will converge on Gentz’s Homestead Golf Course in Chocolay Township for the U.P. Finals at 11 a.m. Saturday.

The finals include six meets with teams split into three divisions each with a boys and girls race.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.