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Miners’ Paupore ends season as U.P. champ

Negaunee’s Emily Paupore leads the pack as she wins the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 1 Finals in girls cross country on Saturday in Munising. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

By JOHN VRANCIC

Special to the Journal

MUNISING — The Negaunee girls haven’t had the luxury of fielding a full team throughout this cross country season.

Junior Emily Paupore, however, didn’t let that stop her from defending her Division 1 title in Saturday’s Upper Peninsula Cross Country Finals in 19 minutes, 58.5 seconds over 3.1 miles at Pictured Rocks Golf Club in Munising.

“My original plan was to run this in about 18:40, but once we got here I kind of knew that wasn’t going to happen,” she said. “I was really excited to run. The weather didn’t really bother me. Once I got up the (last) hill, I saw my time and decided I wanted to go under 20.

“My dad and mom are always there to support me and today my whole family was here to cheer me on.”

Sault Ste. Marie captured its second title in three years with 56 points. Marquette and Houghton finished with 66 points each, with the Redettes gaining the runner-up trophy on a tiebreaker. Westwood placed fourth at 128 on this chilly and windy day.

“We knew Sault was going to be good,” Marquette coach Kyle Detmers said. “Ericka (Asmus) really ran well and our Nos. 5 and 6 runners came through.

“Hats off to (assistant coach) Mike Leanes for all the work he put in. He’s really a wealth of knowledge and a great motivator. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen it this close in Division 1. Sault was just better today.”

Asmus was runner-up at 20:30.5, followed by Houghton senior Anabel Needham (20:34.8), Westwood senior and last year’s D-2 champion Tessa Leece (20:40.1) and Houghton freshman Maria Velat (20:46.6).

“I tried to start a little slow and pick it up during the race,” said Asmus. “I’m a skier so I like snow. It didn’t bother me at all to run in these conditions.

“We’re happy being runner-up. We’re not losing many people next year. We’ll get better.”

Negaunee junior Talon Prusi took seventh in 20:54.2.

Superior Central junior Danika Walters earned her first D-3 title in 20:37.9. She was followed by Mid Peninsula sophomore and defending champion Daisy Englund (20:57.5), Chassell senior Lela Rautiola (21:32.8), Mid Pen freshman Landry Koski (21:43.8) and Chassell freshman Paige Sleeman (21:49.7).

“I took a little more conservative approach today and tried to keep up with the Chassell girl (Rautiola),” Walters said. “I put on a surge at the mile mark and kept that place. It basically feels great to be a U.P. champion, although it hasn’t quite set in yet. I took third at Norway last week and I think it motivated me.”

Chassell, which grabbed five of the top eight places, retained its title with 25 points. The Panthers were followed by Cedarville with 84 and Mid Pen 95.

Hancock took six of the top 12 spots to gain its first D-2 crown in five years with 26 points. The Bulldogs were followed by defending champion St. Ignace with 62 and Munising 79.

St. Ignace senior Elizabeth Becker gained her first U.P. title in 20:46. She was followed by Munising senior Madeleine Peramaki (21:09), Ironwood senior Emily Carey (21:17.9), Ishpeming freshman Abby Racine (21:36.2) and Hancock freshman Kalli Chynoweth (21:37.3).

“I thankful for this opportunity and the support,” Peramaki said. “I did the best I could and I’m feeling good about today. I’m really excited for track. Libby is a nice person. I’m really happy for her. It was definitely a challenge out there, but I was prepared for it.”

Ishpeming freshman Taylor Longtine placed seventh at 21:55.9. Newberry freshman Jorja Suriano was 13th (22:41.3) and Gwinn sophomore Aleixa Basner was 17th (23:12).

Senior Ashley McDonald was Manistique’s leader in 22nd (23:50.1).

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