From front, Marquette's Garrett Rudden, Houghton's Clayton Sayen and the Redmen's Luke Rambo approach the finish line clustered together during the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Finals in Division 1 boys cross country on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, at Pictured Rocks Golf Club in Munising. Sayen pulled out the victory by a tenth of a second over Rudden. (Photo courtesy Kay Rambo)

By JOHN VRANCIC

Special to the Journal

MUNISING — Junior Spencer Giroux turned in a dominating performance, but it wasn’t enough for the Ishpeming boys to retain their Upper Peninsula Division 2 cross country title Saturday.

Gogebic placed five in the top seven and won for the first time with 22 points. The Hematites, who were crowned champions the past three years, were runners-up this time with 36 while third-place Ironwood had 99.

“This wasn’t our best performance this year,” Ishpeming coach P.J. Pruett said. “We ran against Gogebic twice this year and we beat them twice. Spencer ran real well and we had a great season. We were missing our three seniors from last year, although we placed among the top two or three teams all year. We’re losing only one senior.”

Giroux covered the 3.1-mile course in 17 minutes, 3.1 seconds. He was followed by Gogebic senior Isaiah Aili (17:45) and juniors Uriah Aili (17:48.3) and Devon Byers (17:49.7) and sophomore teammate Jonah Broberg (17:52.7).

“I didn’t really have a strategy,” Giroux said. “I just tried to run as hard as I could. I’m happy with how I ran. I think this is a confidence builder going forward. As a team, we’re a little disappointed. But it was a good day overall.”

Senior Kyle Pruett led a pack of five Ishpeming harriers in ninth (18:19.3), with junior Devin Tasson 10th (18:23).

Houghton gained its first title in six years with 39 points. The Gremlins were followed by Marquette with 54, Sault Ste. Marie 99, Gladstone 113 and two-time defending champ Negaunee 119.

The D-1 race boiled down to a sprint to the finish line as Houghton senior Clayton Sayen squeezed past Marquette senior Garrett Rudden for his first championship.

Rudden led after the final turn. Sayen, however, passed him just before the finish.

“This is just an unbelievable feeling,” Sayen said. “It was a great race. Garrett and Luke (Rambo) are amazing runners. Adam Bruce of Gladstone is also an awesome runner. I don’t know if I would have won if I didn’t have them pushing me. It’s great to have people like this to run with everyday.”

Rambo placed third (16:28.9), followed by Bruce (16:39) and Houghton senior Seth Helman (16:56.8).

Sophomore Eric Anderson was Negaunee’s pacesetter in ninth (17:24.7).

Negaunee senior Colton Yesney, who set a course record (15:49.9) in last year’s finals at Flat Rock, didn’t run Saturday due to an ankle injury. He hopes to be ready for the Foot Locker race in southern Wisconsin on Nov. 25.

Brimley was crowned champion for the first time in Division 3, edging three-time defending champ Chassell on a tiebreaker. Both teams scored 60 points. Third-place Rudyard had 118 and Munising took fourth at 134.

Senior Darren Castello led Munising in 12th (18:38.2).

Brimley sophomore Austin Plotkin retained his title (17:08), followed by Cedarville sophomore Thomas Bohn (17:16.2) and Chassell junior Ben Tuomi (17:38.3).

“I ran the first mile in 5:20,” said Plotkin, who was clocked at 11:04.9 after two miles. “I don’t know what happened in the third. It felt like it was fast, only my time didn’t show it.

“Tom and I wanted to pace with each other. I set the pace for both of us and took off in the last 400 (meters). The first mile was right where we wanted it.”