BANAT — Hydration and patience were probably the key words for high school cross country runners in the Stephenson Invitational.

The Houghton boys retained their title with 26 points Wednesday on a sunny and hot afternoon. Florence-Niagara, Wis. was runner-up at 74 and third-place Kingsford scored 105.

Houghton’s girls were also repeat winners with 31 points, followed by Kingsford 55 and Marinette 71.

The Houghton girls ran without senior Tessa Rautiola, who was out due to a possible stress fracture.

Kingsford sophomore Maria Murvich won the girls’ race, covering the 3.1-mile course in 22:10.2, followed by Houghton’s Sela Niska (22:26.4) and Norah Woodruff (22:54.7).

“It was not real good today,” Murvich said. “It was a tough day to run. It’s not an easy course either. I knew it was going to be difficult. I just tried to be patient. After having all the cooler weather, this definitely caught me off guard. I was so happy to see the finish line. It’s too bad Tessa couldn’t be here. I was ready to run with her.”

Menominee junior Winley Brandt placed fourth (23:06) and Escanaba freshman Avah Akerly took fifth (23:47.9).

Freshman Maddy Knauf was Powers North Central’s leader in 11th (25:46.4)

“I tried to drink as much water as I could,” Knauf said. “I used my arms on the hills. It helped me keep my momentum a little. I’m happy with how the race went for being this hot.”

In the boys’ race, Houghton senior Ben Hemmer earned his first individual victory in 18:22.7. He was followed by Kingsford junior Cavan Mulligan (18:29.7) and Gremlins’ teammate Brandon Van Karsen (19:05.5).

“I tried to start with the front pack,” Hemmer said. “I had to work a lot on the hills. I also tried to follow a conservative approach because of the heat. It was brutal. This was absolutely a big adjustment after the cooler weather we’ve had. This is a big confidence builder.”

Boys

Houghton 26, Florence-Niagara, Wis. 74, Kingsford 105, Stephenson 137, Superior Central 144, Marinette 154, Escanaba Holy Name 182, Escanaba 183, Goodman-Pembine, Wis. 199, Munising 205. Carney-Nadeau, Crystal Falls Forest Park, Menominee, Norway and Rock Mid Peninsula NTS

Top 10 — 1, Ben Hemmer, Houghton, 18:22.7; 2, Cavan Mulligan, Kingsford, 18:29.7; 3, Brandon Van Karsen, Houghton, 19:05.5; 4, Canon Kuntze, Stephenson, 19:38.1; 5, Ashdeyn Gerow, Rock Mid Peninsula, 19:40.5; 6, Anderson Limkemann, Houghton, 20:03.7; 7, Xavier Hutchinson, Houghton, 20:10.1; 8, Kingston Berube, Escanaba, 20:16; 9, Jaxon Courts, Florence-Niagara, 20:28; 10, Zane Phillips, Florence-Niagara, 20:29.8.

Girls

Houghton 31, Kingsford 55, Marinette 71, Stephenson 75, Superior Central 113. Big Bay de Noc, Escanaba, Florence-Niagara, Wis., Crystal Falls Forest Park, Escanaba Holy Name, Menominee, Munising, Norway, Goodman-Pembine, Wis., Powers North Central and Rock Mid Peninsula NTS.

Top 10 — 1, Maria Murvich, Kingsford, 22:10.2; 2, Sela Niska, Houghton, 22:26.4; 3, Norah Woodruff, Houghton, 22:54.7; 4, Winley Brandt, Menominee, 23:06; 5, Avah Akerly, Escanaba, 23:47.9; 6, Faith Cappaert, Stephenson, 24:00.4; 7, Jovie Williams, Houghton, 24:22.2; 8, Evonna LaCosse, Big Bay de Noc, 24:35.3; 9, Romi Mattson, Houghton, 25:14.9; 10, Olivia Wescott, 25:28.9.