KINGSFORD — Defending any title is a challenge.

The Gladstone girls got the job done here on May 19, however, retaining their Great Northern Conference championship with 129 points. They were followed closely by Marquette with 116 as Escanaba was a distant third with 52. Kingsford was next with 37 while Menominee had 19.

“That was a big win for our girls,” Braves’ coach Jim Murtha said. “It was a fight for it last year, too. Marquette is a very, very good team. Our depth in the field events really came through.”

Marquette ran away with the boys title with 207 points, followed by Kingsford with 52, Gladstone 36, Menominee 34 and Escanaba 24.

Marquette boys dominant

The Sentinels won 13 of 17 events, with senior and Michigan Tech basketball recruit Jacob MacPhee capturing the 200- (22.95) and 400-meter dashes (51.33) and anchoring the 800 and 1,600 relays.

“We’re definitely very confident,” he said. “We put up 200 points at Negaunee (on May 9) and had a good (U.P.) regional. It’s a good feeling to win the GNC. It’s kind of a trap meet because you start focusing on the U.P. Finals after the regional, although you have to come ready to compete in every meet.

“My starts weren’t as good as I hoped. I think the break will be good for us. That definitely gives us more time to work on things.”

Sophomore teammate Lucas Ballard copped the 800 in a personal-best 1:56.46, followed by senior James Barch (1:59.67), also a PB, and junior Beepsee Teeple (2:01.8) and senior Evan Balko (2:02.94).

MacPhee, Ballard, Barch and Balko comprised the 3,200 relay which became the first U.P. team to break the eight-minute barrier in a meet downstate when they clocked 7:58.97.

“I tried to get out as fast as I could,” Ballard said. “I’m happy with my 800 time. There’s great competition downstate which helps us a lot. It was fun to get under eight minutes. It felt great.

“Over the winter, we figured we were going to do it. We have great coaching. It’s great to be part of this team. Coach (Derek) Marr draws the best out of us. He’s a great motivator.”

The Sentinels, using a different lineup, were runners-up to Kingsford in the 3,200 relay.

“I didn’t remember much right after we broke eight minutes,” MacPhee said. “Everything was kind of a blur, but I was very happy to be part of that team.”

Marquette senior Drew Bradley also won multiple events, taking the 100 (11.4) and pole vault (14-feet even), in the latter edging classmate Michael Cattoor on a tiebreaker.

Gladstone senior Aaron Hughes swept the boys’ weight events, taking the shot put (44-2.5) and discus (131-3) and Esky freshman won the high jump (6-0).

Fure, Jackson lead MSHS girls

Marquette junior Ella Fure won the 1,600 in a personal-best 5:20.98 and 3,200 (11:52.25) and placed second in the 800 (2:34.16).

Sophomore teammate Chloe Jackson ran a PR while winning the 300 hurdles (49.28).

Jackson also helped the winning 1,600 and 3,200 relays and classmate Taylen Todd won the long jump with a leap of 15-5.

Gladstone grabbed the top three places in girls’ pole vault, led by freshman Maggie Karl’s leap of 9 feet. She also shared first with senior sister Kristy Karl in the high jump at 4-10.

Esky junior Ava Stahlboerger won the shot put with a personal-best throw of 30-0.5.

Braves’ senior Lauren Sundquist breezed to victory in the 100 (13.15) and anchored the winning sprint relays.

Gladstone’s Ella Bracket took the 200 (27.12) and 400 (1:03.25) and helped the sprint relays.

Kristy Karl added a first in the 100 hurdles in a personal-best 16.45, nearly 1.5 seconds ahead of the field.

Esky senior Alisha Mabie took the 800 (2:33.58).