The Kingsford High School girls track and field team poses after winning the Great Northern Conference title on Thursday in Marquette. (Submitted Photo)

MARQUETTE — Four teams had one final tune-up opportunity ahead of Upper Peninsula Finals at the Great Northern Conference track and field meet hosted by Marquette Senior High School on Thursday afternoon.

On a cloudy and humid 70-degree day, Marquette claimed the boys GNC crown with 121 points while Kingsford took the girls title with 84 points.

Escanaba was the runner-up on the boys side with 55.99 points followed by Kingsford with 49 and Menominee with 24.

Marquette finished second on the girls side with 70 points followed by Menominee with 60.5 and Escanaba with 38.5

Marquette boys head coach Kyle Detmers said winning the meet against three strong programs was satisfying.

“It feels great,” he said. “This is a very important meet to us because it is a championship. We haven’t seen Kingsford all year so this was our first look at them and they have a really good program and of course Escanaba and Menominee as well. So we’re very thankful for this win.”

Kingsford girls head coach Lisa Harry said the victory took an entire team effort, citing earning points in several field events as well as sprints and relays.

“It’s been a first for us in a while, it’s been a long time since we’ve been able to knock off Marquette,” she said. “I have an awesome group of girls this year and they made it all happen. Everyone picked it up a little bit, we had a lot of personal records and everything came together for us (today).”

On the boys side, the Redmen won nine out of 17 events, three of those coming from senior Garrett Rudden including another victory in the 1,600-meter relay. Rudden earned individual 1st-place finishes in the 1,600 run, the 400 dash and the 3,200 run.

Kingsford won the 800 relay with a time of 1:35.86.

The Kingsford boys also had a strong day, taking victories in the 800 relay and shot put.

Kingsford boys head coach Doug Roberts said his team put out a strong day despite lower roster numbers.

“I thought our throwers in the shot put did really well,” he said. “They went 1-2, our throwers were strong, our relays did good, we just don’t have enough sprinters. Give it to Marquette, they’re strong again and Escanaba had a good day as well. I thought we performed well and competed hard, it’s just a numbers thing and that’s where we ended up.”

The Kingsford girls won seven events and junior Olivia Allen had a hand in four of them.

Allen won the 100 dash, 200 dash and 400 dash as well as the 1,600 relay in which the team of Olivia Allen, Emma Allen, Peyton Johnson and Sarah Roell raced to a time of 4:16.88 beating out Marquette.

In the 100, Olivia Allen had a time of 13.58, edging Marquette senior Abby Kroll. Allen had a time of 27.85 in the 200 and 59.19 in the 400 just ahead of Marquette sophomore Delaney Sall who had a time of 59.91. Allen broke her own school record in the 400.

Marquette girls head coach Natalie Messano said it was a strong second-place finish despite trying to keep her team healthy for U.P. Finals.

“It was a tough day for us,” she said. “We had a lot of girls pulling up sore here and there and basically a week before U.P. Finals, we’re not going to risk it. We’re playing it safe and Kingsford, they showed up and competed well. It’s a bummer that (today) was the first time we’ve seen them all year but we’ll see them in a week and hopefully we’re in better shape.”