HOUGHTON — Following a year’s absence, an indoor track and field meet made its return here Thursday, offering many area student-athletes an opportunity to open their season.

Lake Linden-Hubbell senior Emily Jokela collected three firsts in the Keweenaw Classic on the 200-meter track at the Michigan Tech Student Development Complex.

The Grand Valley State University recruit copped the girls’ 60-meter dash in eight seconds, 400 (1:01.8), 60 hurdles (9.1) and helped the Lakes place third in the 1600 relay.

“So far I’m happy with the way everything is going,” she said. “I was gone on Spring Break for a week and trying not to be too hard on myself. I didn’t get a chance to work on my 400 because of the snow. I’m excited about going to Grand Valley. It has my academic interests and it’s a little larger school for Division 2. I would like to get my times down in preparation for college and the U.P. (D-3) Finals.”

Junior teammate Maddy Dudenas won shot put (29-10) and Lakes’ freshman Payton Goldsworthy placed third (28-8).

While this was the first meet for most teams, Ontonagon was the exception to that rule, running indoors at Ashland, Wisconsin, March 20.

“I think that helped out a bit,” Ontonagon sophomore Jenna Tarnowski said. “I think that helped us get rid of the jitters. This is the first time I ran in the open 200. It’s a full sprint and feels like a long way, yet it really wasn’t. The last 50 meters were hard. I’m so ready for the first outdoor meet.”

In Ashland, Tarnowski won the 200 hurdles and took second in the 60s.

Gladiators’ junior Violet Amos the 200 (28.0) and was runner-up in the 400 (1:03.6) and shared third with Marquette sophomore Grace Filizetti in the 60 (8.5) Thursday.

Negaunee, led by senior Macyn Dellangelo (29.2), tooke the next three spots in the 200.

Houghton senior Lily Ross captured the 800 (2:38.5), followed by Hancock freshman Alena Pietila (2:43.5).

Marquette senior Maija Maki-Warne was the pacesetter in the 1600 (5:27.6). She was followed by Houghton junior Tessa Rautiola (5:31.4), Marquette senior Chloe Miller (5:42.3) and Escanaba senior Alisha Mabie (5:46.2), who will be running at Northern Michigan University next season.

This was also the first taste of competition for West Iron County this season.

“We’ve been on Spring Break and haven’t practiced yet,” Wykons’ coach Kristi Berutti said. “We were glad to have an opportunity to run inside against competition. You can’t really judge anything in here. I think we’re doing all right.”

In the boys’ meet, Chassell senior Kalvin Kytta hung on to win the 800 (2:12.7), edging Marquette junior Beepsee Teeple on a lean, and placed third in the 1600 (4:34.9).

“I thought I had more of a gap,” Kytta said. “Beepsee is quite a competitor. I think I got a little too comfortable. I was really happy with my mile. I was a little nervous because the Marquette guys were here, but it went all right. It’s nice to get some early-season races in to see where you’re at. There were only two of us from Chassell here today, but we have higher numbers than usual this year. We have great participation among the upperclassmen which is good to see.”

Houghton coach Erik Johnson says the Gremlins have 65 on their team.

“The biggest challenge is getting times on everybody, which is kind of a nice problem to have,” he added. “Considering this is our first time running on a track surface, we’re doing well. For many of our freshmen this is their first time running in an event. I thought the meet was run very efficiently. It was good to get this in. It may be a while before we can get another meet in.”

Marquette, led by senior Kyler Sager, grabbed the top six places in the 60.

Sager was clocked at 7.2 and sophomore Kyle Waterman provided Negaunee with its lone first in the 60 hurdles (9.0).

“We did all right,” Negaunee coach Kyle Bell said. “We’re kind of young this year. We haven’t been able to go outside, but this absolutely gives us a chance to see where we’re at. We’re super excited to get this in. This gives us an idea what we need to work on.”

Negaunee senior Brady Mager, a Wisconsin-Parkside recruit, tied for second with Houghton sophomore Samuel Roth in the 200 (25.2), and placed third in the 60 hurdles (9.3).

Houghton also got a second from sophomore Michael Solena (40-5) and Dollar Bay senior Joshua Gaunt placed third in the 400 (56.3).

Boys

60 dash — 1, Sager, Mqt, 7.2; 2, Jurmu and Jenshak, Mqt (tie).

200 — 1, Pittsley, Mqt, 24.4; 2, Roth, Hou and Mager, Neg (tie).

400 — 1, MacPhee, Mqt, 53.3; 2, McEachern, Neg; 3, Gaunt, DB.

800 — 1, Kytta, Chas, 2:12.7; 2, Teeple, Mqt; 3, Hemmer, Hou.

1600 — 1, Ballard, Mqt, 4:28.4; 2, Balko, Mqt; 3, Kytta, Chas.

60 hurdles — 1, Waterman, Neg, 9.0; 2, Norman, Mqt; 3, Mager, Neg.

1600 relay — 1, Marquette (Richardson, Balko, Ballard, MacPhee), 3:42.9; 2, Negaunee; 3, Houghton.

Shot put — 1, Smith, Mqt, 41-5; 2, Solena, Hou; 3, Nordstrom, WIC.

Girls

60 dash — 1, Jokela, LL-H, 8.0; 2, Coleman, Mqt; 3, Amos, Ont and Filizetti, Mqt (tie).

200 — 1, Amos, Ont, 28.0; 2, Dellangelo, Neg; 3, Waterman, Neg.

400 — 1, Jokela, LL-H, 1:01.8; 2, Amos, Ont; 3, Waterman, Neg.

800 — 1, Ross, Hou, 2:38.5; 2, Pietila, Han; 3, Malherbe, Mqt.

1600 — 1, Maki-Warne, Mqt, 5:27.6; 2, Rautiola, Hou; 3, Miller, Mqt.

60 hurdles — Jokela, LL-H, 9.1; 2, Pekrul, Neg; 3, Serafin, Hou.

1600 relay — 1, Marquette (Daugherty, Malherbe, Maki-Warne, Miller), 4:39.6; 2, Negaunee; 3, Lake Linden-Hubbell.

Shot put — 1, Dudenas, LL-H, 29-10; 2, Morey, Neg; 3, Goldsworthy, LL-H.