Newberry duo grabs top two spots at U.P. Division 2 finals

By John Vrancic
For the Newberry News

Newberry senior Abby Taylor and sophomore Molly McNamara did what they set out to do Saturday, grabbing the top two places in the Upper Peninsula Cross Country Finals.

Taylor gained her first U.P. Division 2 (D-2) title by covering the hilly 3.1-mile course in 20 minutes, 16.1 seconds and McNamara was clocked at 20:29.3. Munising freshman Emma Conklin placed third (21:15.1) on the Michigan Tech trails.

“It’s super exciting,” Taylor said. “I felt I had a pretty good chance, and I’m happy about Molly taking second. This is probably the toughest course I ran on. I wanted to go out conservatively and save it for the next two miles. My finish wasn’t the best. The hills toward the end were tough. Those took a lot out of me.”

McNamara said she was feeling a little under the weather.

“I definitely didn’t feel the best,” she added. “My feet were pretty sore and it got a little hot out there. My goal was to get under 20.

Although, it’s a good course. There were a lot of long hills. I had a pretty good season overall. I’m really excited for track next spring.”
Munising brought home the championship trophy with 48 points, followed by Rudyard 57, Painesdale Jeffers 69, Hancock 113, Brimley 115, Newberry 123, and Ironwood 196. Gogebic, Norway and Ishpeming didn’t field complete teams.

Other D-2 finishers for Newberry include seniors Emily Mills in 44th place at 30:39.5, Ari Cornell 45th (30:45.2), senior Delaney Bliss 49th (35:12.2), and Allison Wallace 52nd (38:03.3) on the sunny and very warm afternoon in the Copper Country.

The Rudyard and Munising boys scored 42 points apiece, and the Bulldogs took the title on a sixth-runner tiebreaker.

Jeffers, which was crowned champion the past five years, placed third this time with 50 points.

Ishpeming senior Kemper Gearhart earned his first D-2 U.P. title at 17:48.2. He was followed by Rudyard senior Eli Folkersma (18:00.7) and Munising senior Blake Lakosky (18:10.1)

The Cedarville-DeTour boys were crowned D-3 champions, with 78 points, for the first time as combined program.

This marked the first time Cedarville took the title since 2004.

C-D was followed by St. Ignace and Rapid River 86, Rock Mid Peninsula 87, defending champ Crystal Falls Forest Park 108, Stephenson 132, Pickford 137, Superior Central 150 and Carney-Nadeau 196. Engadine and nine other schools had no team scores.

Engadine junior Nate Stielstra placed second at 17:58.2 and Islanders’ freshman Liam Bohn took third (18:02.4).

“The course was hard,” Stielstra said. “I was running sixth in the second mile. This wasn’t my best time, but everything came together. At 1½ miles, I could see a couple kids ahead of me. I couldn’t ask for better.”

Also finishing for the Eagles were junior Eddie Franckowiak in 17th (19:18), classmate Birch Bitely 36th (20:44.5) and freshman Eli Franckowiak 78th (26:12.4).

The L’Anse girls retained their title with 38 points. They were followed by Ewen-Trout Creek (E-TC) 74, and Rapid River 82. Engadine and 10 other schools didn’t field complete teams.

Superior Central freshman Edye Burdett took the individual D-3 title in 19:55, followed by E-TC senior Bree Besonen (20:46.7) and Forest Park freshman Ellie Zaupa (21:59).

Engadine sophomore Sarah Chapman placed sixth (22:40.8).

“I’m happy with that,” she said. “The course was really hilly and it got really hot. I wasn’t expecting this. This is a true cross country course.”

Additional finishers for Engadine include freshman Maggie Mersnick in 22nd (24:29.1) and sophomore Fern Stielstra 37th (25:48.3).