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 g

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