ISHPEMING — Track and field success is often determined by how strong you finish.

The Gladstone boys followed that formula here Monday as they rallied past Westwood for their first Mid-Peninsula Conference title.

Gladstone scored 144 points, followed by Westwood 129 and defending champ Ishpeming 118. Iron Mountain was fourth with 47 points.

Westwood led by 10 points with three events remaining.

The Braves, however, secured the decision by scoring a combined 26 points in high jump and the 3200-meter run and winning the 1600 relay in three minutes, 42.69 seconds. The Patriots didn’t score in the 3200 and high jump and were runners-up in the final relay (3:45.22).

Senior Adam Bruce won the 3200 (10:28.31) and classmate Jake Strasler placed fifth (11:31.51).

“Adam winning the 3200 and Jake taking fifth helped us out,” said Braves’ coach Gary Whitmer. “Adam went out in 5:21 (in the first mile) and came back with a 5:07. That was a good run into that wind. Going 2-3-6 in high jump also helped. It was a hard day to jump with the wind being the way it was. Although, the guys were jumping with the wind on their back, so if they touched the bar at all, it was coming down.”

Iron Mountain’s Charlie Gerhard won the high jump at 5 feet, 8 inches. He was also third in the 300 hurdles and 110 hurdles.

The Mountaineers’ 800 relay took third.

The Negaunee girls were crowned champions for the 10th straight time with 129.5 points, followed by Westwood 96 and Manistique and Gladstone 76. Iron Mountain was last with 40 points.

Sarah Kulas took second in the 3200 for the Mountaineers. Tiana Brooks took third in the 100 and was also third in the 200.

Iron Mountain’s 1600 relay was third.

“I’m very proud of the performance by our girls,” said Negaunee coach Vickie Paupore. “We have a very deep team. We’re starting to see our freshmen come along.”

Gladstone sophomore Calvin Thibault collected three firsts, taking the boys’ 110 hurdles in 15.34 seconds, 300s (42.18) and edging Westwood senior Nathan Beckman on a lean in the 200.

“I basically hadn’t been good at that, but got it done today,” said Thibault. “The wind was a real challenge on the back stretch for everyone, then it kind of evened out with the wind.”

Beckman took the 100 (11.38) and helped the Patriots sweep the sprint relays.

Junior Luke Van Brocklin added a first for the Braves in the 400 (52.59) and helped the 1600 relay.

Ishpeming was led by Jonah Broberg’s victories in the 800 (2:13.32) and 1600 (4:42.83) and runner-up finish in the 3200 (10:53.88).

Manistique junior Schyler Andersen copped discus at 151.5 feet and shot put (43-2 1/2).

“My dad (Shawn) is an excellent coach,” Andersen said. “I’m just learning more from him. I’m getting more speed in the circle. My throwing technique is still the same. It’s just a matter of finetuning everything.”

Junior Chloe Norman led the Negaunee girls, winning high jump (4-11), long jump (17-1/2), 100 hurdles (16.89) and 300s (48.01).

“The wind was challenging, but I was thinking everybody has to run with it,” she said. “The wind was on our back for long jump and the 100 hurdles. That was nice for sure. At first, I was a little worried about running into the wind, but our team is real good about encouraging each other.”

Negaunee’s Abbie Tollefson captured discus (109-9) and Talon Prusi added a first in the 3200 (13:01.62).

“Chloe has been very impressive all season,” said coach Paupore. “Our throwers again did an outstanding job. Alyssa Hill had a nice PR in discus (90-3). Talon had a nice win in the 3200 and Lauren Ossenheimer ran a nice 800 (2:47.58).”

The Miners ran without junior distance ace Emily Paupore due to shin issues.

Manistique senior Ashley McDonald retained her long jump title (8-6), edging Westwood’s Katelyn Anttila in a jump-off. She also helped the Emeralds take the 1600 and 3200 relays and was runner-up in high jump on a tie-breaker.

“I was literally dead (tired) after running in the 1600 relay,” said McDonald, who plans to run track and cross country at St. Norbert’s College. “We both cleared 8-3 in the jump-off, then we jumped at 8-6 for the third time. I have one more chance to break the school record in high jump (5-1), which I hope to do in our invitational Thursday.”

Westwood’s Tessa Leece took the 400 (1:03.68), 800 (2:37.12) and 1600 (5:53.19).

Gwinn’s Emily Curtice won the 100 (13.09) and 200 (27.66) and Marissa Delmont captured shot put (36-9 1/2).

Sophomore Ahna Larson paced Gladstone, taking second in the 100 (13.43), 100 hurdles (17.0) and 300s (51.4) and long jump (15-2 1/2).

“We had a great day,” said Braves’ coach Jim Murtha. “This was definitely a strong performance. I’m very proud of their effort. Jamisyn (Bergeron) did real well in the 3200 and led off our sprint relays and Sam Strasler’s effort in the 800 was very impressive. Sam was seeded fourth and took second (2:45.74) with a rush of people coming behind her, and I thought Ahna had a strong day.”