×

Paupore first in West PAC

Cross Country

ISHPEMING — Despite rain for much of the day, the precipitation stopped long enough to let a handful of Upper Peninsula high school cross country teams compete in the Tracy Strom Invitational at Al Quaal Recreation Area in Ishpeming Thursday afternoon.

The meet also served as a West PAC meet for the conference realigned this fall.

Ishpeming won the boys crown to remain undefeated on the season, while Hancock claimed the girls title.

The Hematites boys accumulated 29 points, with Houghton runner-up with 53, Chassell 67, Negaunee 88 and Westwood 123.

Hancock scored 52 points on the girls side, followed by Houghton with 55, Chassell 69, Ishpeming 87, Westwood 98, Calumet 133 and West Iron County 168.

In the boys meet, Hematites senior Spencer Giroux won in 17 minutes, 24.4 seconds, the second best time in the last nine years on the five-kilometer (3.1-mile) Al Quaal course. His time was second only to former Negaunee standout and now-University of Michigan runner Colton Yesney, who has the record of 16:54.4 set in 2016.

In the girls meet, Miners junior Emily Paupore was the class of the field as she has been all season. She won in 19:36.2, beating out Houghton’s Anabel Needham by exactly 61 seconds. Needham was runner-up in 20:37.2.

Paupore also had a near fall, but regrouped and cruised to the finish line after looking at the meet as more of a workout than a race.

“The terrain was a little tough to get your footing on,” she said. “I almost slipped once. It was interesting, very muddy, but overall it was a really nice course. I love all the hills because it makes for a hard workout. My coach and I decided on Tuesday to take it as a workout, try to sprint up those hills and keep steady on the straights.”

Paupore added the challenging, hilly course didn’t bother her.

“It’s probably the toughest course in terms of hills, but it’s definitely nice if you do like hills,” she said. “I really like hills, I don’t know why, it’s just something I enjoy. It makes it a tougher course, it makes you dig a little bit deeper and I enjoy that.”

BOYS

Team standings — 1. Ishpeming 29, 2. Houghton 53, 3. Chassell 67, 4. Negaunee 88, 5. Westwood 123

GIRLS

Team standings — 1. Hancock 52, 2. Houghton 55, 3. Chassell 69, 4. Ishpeming 87, 5. Westwood 98, 6. Calumet 133, 7. West Iron County 168

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today