Ishpeming’s Spencer Giroux, front right, leads Manistique’s Alex Misniakiewicz, center, and Gogebic’s Uriah Aili (217) run at the front of the pack during the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 2 Finals in boys cross country on Saturday at Pictured Rocks Golf Club in Munising. Aili won the race with Giroux finishing third and Misniakiewicz sixth. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

By JOHN VRANCIC

Special to the Journal

MUNISING — The Ishpeming boys added to their already rich cross country tradition Saturday, becoming the first ones from their school to complete a perfect season.

Ishpeming placed all seven of its runners in the top 13 and scored 32 points for its fourth Upper Peninsula Division 2 title in five years. Defending champ Gogebic was runner-up this time with 47 and third-place Newberry had 70.

“The guys were pretty motivated,” Ishpeming coach P.J. Pruett said. “When one made a mistake, another picked it up. We’ve been doing two meets a week for six weeks. The kids were pretty tired, but still picked it up. We never had any injuries this year. We’re 10 deep and went back and forth all week about who would run today.”

Gogebic senior Uriah Aili posted the fastest time on this cold, windy and blustery day at the Pictured Rocks Golf Club, covering the 3.1-mile course in 17 minutes, 2.5 seconds, with classmate Devon Byers runner-up at 17:16.

Senior Spencer Giroux was Ishpeming’s pacesetter in third (17:33.9), followed by junior teammate Jonah Broberg (18:00.4), sophomore Jordan Longtine (18:06.4) and Manistique junior Alex Misniakiewicz (18:20.5).

Sophomore Ephram Evans was Newberry’s leader in eighth (18:33.7).

“It was really tough out there,” Evans said. “It was hard to run a good time. Although I’m satisfied with what I’ve done this season. I lost a couple places in the last 1,200 meters. I really wanted to go under 17 minutes, but couldn’t get it done. I’m definitely going to work hard during the off-season. I’ve got to keep my fitness for track.”

Sault Ste. Marie won the Division 1 title for the first time in six years with 42 points. The Blue Devils were followed by defending champion Houghton with 65, Gladstone 70 and Marquette 71.

“It was a Blue Devil day,” Marquette coach Kyle Detmers said. “(Sault coach) Jim (Martin) has a great program over there. They have a very deep team and their boys ran a nice race. Houghton really came on like gangbusters and Gladstone’s Nos. 4 and 5 runners moved up.”

Gladstone senior Adam Bruce, battling a hip problem, won in 17:05.6. He was followed by Houghton junior Joe Wood (17:35), Gladstone senior Jake Strasler (17:40.1), Sault junior Kaaleb Ranta (17:47) and Gladstone freshman Giovanni Mathews (17:48).

Senior Mathurin Gagnon was Marquette’s leader in seventh (17:55.8).

The Chassell boys won the Division 3 crown for the fourth time in five years with 41 points. The Panthers, who placed five in the top 13, were followed by defending champ Brimley with 54 and Rudyard 72.

Brimley junior Austin Plotkin retained his title at 17:23.5, followed by Cedarville junior Thomas Bohn (17:29.5), Brimley sophomore Cameron Hoornstra (17:46), Chassell senior Ben Tuomi (17:55.4) and Dollar Bay’s Davin Hill (18:04.3).

Republic-Michigamme senior Andrew Olender paced area runners in 26th (19:43.2).