Negaunee's Emily Paupore leads the pack and went on to win during the MHSAA Upper Peninsula Division 1 Finals in girls cross country on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018, at Pictured Rocks Golf Club in Munising. (Photo courtesy Cara Kamps)

MUNISING — Negaunee High School junior Emily Paupore defended her UP Division 1 girls cross country championship Saturday.

Paupore covered the 3.1-mile course in 19 minutes, 58.5 seconds at Pictured Rocks Golf Club. Her goal was 18:40 but a cold and windy day nixed that idea.

“Once we got here I kind of knew that wasn’t going to happen,” Paupore told John Vrancic of the MHSAA Second Half and Mining Journal. “I was really excited to run. The weather didn’t really bother me.”

Paupore is the daughter of former Niagara and Kingsford residents, Vickie (Leathers) and Mark Paupore.

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

Sault Ste. Marie’s girls, 56 points, took the Division 1 team title. Kingsford finished sixth with 142. Sarah Kulas (12th, 21:14) and Lily Menghini (15th, 21:17) led the Flivvers.

Hancock, 26 points, won the UP Division 2 girls title while West Iron County, 96, wound up fifth. St. Ignace’s Elizabeth Becker took top honors (20:46). Avery Bociek paced the Wykons (15th, 22:52).

Chassell, 25 points, captured the Division 3 girls title. Superior Central’s Danika Walters was the individual champion (20:37).

In the UP boys meet, Sault Ste. Marie, 42 points, won the Division 1 championship. Gladstone’s Adam Bruce ran to first in 17:05.

Brandon Malburg led Kingsford, finishing 17th in 18:11.

Ishpeming’s boys, 32 points, claimed their fourth UP Division 2 title in five years. Gogebic’s Uriah Aili won the individual title in 17:02. Norway’s Adam Cavagnetto placed 21st (20:07).

Chassell, 41 points, was the Division 3 boys champion. Individual winner Austin Plotkin of Brimley ran a 17:23. North Central’s Griffin Johnson finished 17th (19:16).