STEPHENSON — The race for the Division 3 regional boys’ track championship came right down to the wire as Stephenson edged North Central 65-62 here Friday.

Forest Park placed third with 23 points.

“North Central has an excellent team,” said Stephenson coach Logan Carlson. “They’re not short of athletes at all. Coming into the final race, you always dream of something like this. I’m glad our guys stepped up and got it done. Their relays were revamped, and they caught us off guard in the 400. I thought we’d take first in that relay, and their guys won it.”

Senior D’Artagnon Meintz anchored the winning 1600 relay, which was clocked at three minutes, 46.46 seconds. The Jets were runners-up (3:51.37) on this warm, humid and sometimes rainy afternoon.

North Central earned at least a share of the regional crown five straight times prior to last year. The Eagles and Jets shared the title in 2019.

“We had 15 boys and did well considering,” said Jets’ coach Cherie Granquist. “We tried hard all day, and it came down to the last event. We qualified a lot of kids and have somebody going to Kingsford in 14 events. Stephenson has four very fast kids in the 1600 relay. We did everything we could.”

The Stephenson girls won for the first time in four years with 95 points, followed by two-time defending champion North Dickinson 43 and Carney-Nadeau 20.

“North Dickinson has such a strong team,” said Stephenson coach Kate Kuntze. “This was a hard day to run, but I never heard any complaints. The girls were in real good spirits and knew what they had to do. We always ask them to stay focused.”

North Central junior Wyatt Raab swept the weight events, taking shot put (34-7 3/4) and discus (99-10), and classmate Trent Naser took high jump (5-6) and helped the winning 400 relay.

Additional winners for the Jets were sophomores Luke Gorzinski in the 200 (23.84) and Dylan Plunger in the 400 (55.41) and senior Ian Gorzinski in high jump (5-6).

Forest Park senior Mason Rintala recorded victories in the 800 (2:14.76), 1600 (4:49.25) and 3200 (10:53.81).

North Dickinson junior Ashton Hord collected three firsts, taking the 100 (13.87), 200 (28.8) and 400 (1:07.17).

“My starts went pretty well,” she said. “I enjoy running in the rain as long as there’s no wind and the humidity didn’t really bother me. My form was good, and I feel confident going into the U.P. Finals. I’m happy with the distance I got in long jump (13-8).”

Vanessa Lindholm provided the Nordics with a first in the 800 (2:51.52).

North Central freshman Gracie Kleikamp placed second in high jump (4-6).

The top four individual finishers and top two relays qualified for the Upper Peninsula Finals at Kingsford June 5.

Boys

Stephenson 65, North Central 62, Forest Park 23, North Dickinson 19, Carney-Nadeau 12.

3200 relay — 1, Stephenson (Cappaert, D. Meintz, Corey, Brown), 10:12.07; 2, North Dickinson.

110 hurdles — 1, Hodson, C-N, 17.71; 2, Naser, NC

100 — 1, Williams, S, 12.1; 2, E. Gorzinski, NC; 3, I. Gorzinski, NC

800 relay — 1, Stephenson (Crawford, Johnson, Kacynski, Williams), 1:39.49; 2, North Central; 3, North Dickinson.

1600 — 1, Rintala, FP, 4:49.25; 3, Conery, ND

400 relay — 1, North Central (Naser, I. Gorzinski, E. Gorzinski, L. Gorzinski), 46.26; 2, Stephenson; 3, North Dickinson.

400 — 1, Plunger, NC, 55.41

300 hurdles — 1, Hodson, C-N, 44.21; 2, Naser, NC; 4, McKissack, FP

800 — 1, Rintala, FP, 2:14.76; 3, Conery, ND

200 — 1, L. Gorzinski, NC, 23.84; 4, Reed, FP.

3200 — 1, Rintala, FP, 10:53.81; 2, Holmes, ND

1600 relay — 1, Stephenson (Elson, Kacynski, Coldren, Brown), 3:46.46; 2, North Central; 3, Forest Park; 4, North Dickinson.

High jump — 1, Naser, NC, 5-6; 2, Plunger, NC; 3, Leistikow, ND

Pole vault — 1, Coldren, S, 11-6; 3, Dani, NC.

Long jump — 1, I. Gorzinski, NC, 18-3 1/2; 4, McKissack, FP

Shot put — 1, Raab, NC, 34-7 3/4; 2, Bendick, FP; 3, Walters, NC

Discus — 1, Raab, NC, 99-10; 2, Walters, NC; 3, Madigan, ND

Girls

Stephenson 95, North Dickinson 43, Carney-Nadeau 20, North Central 13, Forest Park 12.

3200 relay — 1, Stephenson (P. Cappaert, Kylee Kuntze, G. Kuntze, J. Kuntze), 11:21.58; 2, North Dickinson; 3, North Central.

100 hurdles — 1, M. Lindholm, ND, 19.07; 4, Larson, FP.

100 — 1, Ashton Hord, ND, 13.87

800 relay — 1, Stephenson (Prestin, Hauser, D. Grinsteiner, Anders), 2:00.04; 2, North Central; 3, Forest Park.

1600 — 1, Kylee Kuntze, S, 6:06.84; 2, Grunlund, ND; 4, Clark, FP.

400 relay — 1, Stephenson (Schamel, Hummel, Lusardi, Anders), 56.58; 2, North Central; 3, North Dickinson.

400 — 1, Ashton Hord, ND, 1:07.17; 4, Applekamp, ND.

300 hurdles — 1, Hauser, S, 54.67; 2, Larson, FP; 4, M. Lindholm, ND.

800 — 1, V. Lindholm, ND, 2:51.52

200 — 1, Ashton Hord, ND, 28.8

3200 — 1, Kylee Kuntze, S, 13:59.4; 3, Clark, FP; 4, Mattson, ND.

1600 relay — 1, Stephenson (J. Kuntze, Hauser, Kylee Kuntze, D. Meintz), 4:47.34; North Dickinson; 3, North Central.

High jump — 1, J. Kuntze, S, 4-8; 2, Kleikamp, NC

Pole vault — 1, D. Grinsteiner, S, 8-9; 2, Larson, FP

Long jump — 1, Hummel, S, 14-9; 4, Ashton Hord, ND.

Shot put — 1, P. Cappaert, S, 31-5; 4, Aiden Hord, ND.

Discus — 1, P. Cappaert, S, 106-5; 4, M. Lindholm, ND.