The Negaunee High School boys and girls track and field teams, along with their coaches, stay bundled up after winning team titles each by more than 50 points at the Mid-Peninsula Conference meets held in Gladstone on a cool, breezy day on Thursday. (Photo courtesy Vickie Paupore)

GLADSTONE — Winning your first varsity race is always special.

Gladstone sophomore Joselyn Mills accomplished that here Thursday in the girls’ 1,600-meter run at the Mid-Peninsula Conference track and field meet.

She was clocked at 6 minutes, 3.44 seconds with Negaunee freshman Adelyn Chapman placing second in 6:09.52, both personal bests on a windy and chilly day.

“That was a PR by 19 seconds,” Mills said. “Having good competition and somebody to push me really helped. Winning my first varsity race makes me feel accomplished. This is kind of a boost and running a PR is a big motivator. I’m excited for cross country this fall.”

Negaunee won the team title for the 15th consecutive time with 221 points. The Miners were followed by Gladstone with 158, while Manistique was third with 75, followed by Ishpeming in fourth with 36, Iron Mountain 14, Gwinn in sixth with 8 and Westwood seventh with 5.

The Negaunee boys also won their meet with 200.5 points, also well ahead of runner-up Gladstone’s 119 as Manistique was again third, time time with 83.5. Westwood followed in fourth with 48, Gwinn was right behind them with 45, IM had 22 and Ishpeming seventh with 2.

Miners, Emeralds win girls events

Gladstone freshman Ella Bracket won the girls’ 200 in 26.75 seconds, followed by Negaunee sophomores Keira Waterman (26.81) and Sadie Rogers (27.15) and Gladstone senior Lauren Sundquist (27.19), all of whom ran personal-best times.

Waterman took the 400 (1:00.6) and Bracket was runner-up (1:01.33), also PBs.

“My starts went real well,” Waterman said. “It was nice to have the wind on our back coming into the finish, but all the wind was coming at us on the back stretch. I just put my head down and battled through it.

“It’s definitely nice to get a good start. My steps were kind of off in long jump, but I still made it work.”

Gladstone junior Peyton Takkunen added a first in the 800 at a season-best 2:31.4, nearly 11 seconds ahead of the field.

Rogers collected victories in the 100 hurdles in a personal-best 16.22 seconds and 300s (48.71) and junior teammate Nori Korsman copped the long jump (15 feet, 10.5 inches) and high jump (4-10) while anchoring the winning 3,200 relay.

“It was a little hard starting into the wind for the 300s, but both starts went well,” Rogers said. “I spend a lot of time working on form. This is quite a bit of a confidence boost, although there’s still a lot of good hurdlers out there. I have to come ready to compete every time. Having a target on your back keeps you humble.”

Chapman won the 3,200 (13:24.15), while senior teammate Macyn DellAngelo added a first for the Miners in the 100 (13.02) and Negaunee sophomore Priya Morey took the discus (90-2).

Madison Pekrul helped the Miners take a 1-2-3 sweep of the 300 hurdles, placing second in 51.47. She also took third in the 100 hurdles (17.0).

“It was exciting to see some good performances today,” Negaunee coach Vickie Paupore said. “We want to peak at the right time. Sadie was dominant in the hurdles and Adelyn ran a PR in the 1600.

“Having a bigger team helps. It was a good day all around.”

Negaunee also did well in the relays, winning the 1,600 and 3,200. The 1,600 time of 4:28.43 was set by Riley Conklin, Clare O’Donnell, Josie Mechling and Waterman, while the 3,200 in 10:57.79 was run by Conklin, O’Donnell, Adelyn Chapman and Korsman.

Manistique junior Kyra Carlson won the pole vault (9-0), edging Korsman on a tiebreaker, and classmate Gwen Brewster took the shot put (32-6) and placed second in the discus (88-6).

Mager leads Negaunee boys

The Miners boys captured the top four places in the 110 hurdles and four of top five spots in the 300s and long jump.

Senior Brady Mager won the 110 hurdles (16.23) and 300 hurdles (41.04), 200 (23.03) and high jump (6-0).

“Our hurdlers really came through,” Negaunee coach Kyle Bell said. “Taking four places in long jump also helped. The guys did what they were expected to do.

“We have 13 going to the (U.P.) finals. I’m very pleased with them.”

Junior Simon Jaklin added firsts for Negaunee with a personal best in the 1,600 (5:00.17) and 3,200 (11:05.5), while junior Derek McEachern copped the 400 (54.32).

The Miners also won the 1,600 relay in 3:48.85 with Kyle Waterman, Thomas Menge, Blayne LaCosse and McEachern.

Gladstone senior Evan Woelffer captured the long jump with a personal-best leap of 20-11.5, with Negaunee freshman Aries Korsman runner-up (18-9).

Braves’ senior Aaron Hughes captured the discus (130-4) and was runner-up to Gwinn senior Mason Beauchamp by two inches in the shot put as the Modeltowner heaved the shot exactly 44 feet.

Manistique grabbed the top three spots in the 800, led by senior Brendan Mead (2:12.82), then classmate Ben Gilroy (2:13.45) and freshman Kavin Jackson (2:18.97).

The trio also lent a helping hand in the winning the 3,200 relay, which included sophomore Matt Clark.