HOUGHTON — Following a year’s absence, an indoor track and field meet made its return at Michigan Tech on Thursday, offering Upper Peninsula student-athletes, especially those from the Copper Country, an opportunity to open their season.

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

The Grand Valley State University recruit won the girls’ 60-meter dash in 8.0 seconds, 400 in 1:01.8, 60 hurdles in 9.1 seconds and helped the Lakes place third in the 1,600 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 (NCAA) Division II.

“I would like to get my times down in preparation for college and the (Upper Peninsula Division 3) Finals.”

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

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

“I think that helped out a bit,” Gladiators 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.”

Gladiators’ junior Violet Amos won 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 dash (8.5 seconds) on Thursday.

Taking the next three spots in the 200 was Negaunee, led by senior Macyn Dellangelo clocking 29.2 seconds.

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 1,600 in 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 in 2:12.7, edging Marquette junior Beepsee Teeple on a lean, and placed third in the 1,600 (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.”

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

“The biggest challenge is getting times on everybody, which is kind of a nice problem to have,” he said. “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.

“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 seconds and sophomore Kyle Waterman provided Negaunee with its lone first in the 60 hurdles in 9.0 seconds.

“We did all right,” Negaunee boys 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, each clocking 25.2 seconds.