GLADSTONE — It was a productive track and field opener for Big Bay de Noc freshman Destiny Bleau as she won three events in the Delta County Invitational here Tuesday.

The Gladstone girls took the team title with 175 points, followed by Escanaba 104 and Bark River-Harris 89.

Esky’s boys won for the first time since 2014 by edging Gladstone 139-134. Third place Rapid River finished with 104 points.

Bleau won high jump with a school-record leap of 5-2 and junior teammate Caragan Thill and Gladstone senior Kristy Karl shared the runner-up spot at 5-0 on this cool and damp afternoon.

Bleau also took the 100-meter in 12.99 seconds and 200 at 27.26.

“Everything kind of fell in place,” Bleau said. “This was only the first meet, but I felt pretty good. Hopefully, this sets the tone for the season. I was definitely happy to get those times in the 100 and 200. Somebody false-started in the 200 which makes you a little nervous.”

Gladstone freshman Ella Bracket won the 400 (1:03.11) and helped the Braves take the 1600 relay and place second in the 400 (54.27).

“We had some very good performances,” Braves’ coach Jim Murtha said. “We were getting solid contributions from everybody. Kristy had a much better start in the 100 hurdles and ran a PR (personal record) today. Ella ran a real nice 400, anchored our 1600 relay and helped us take second in the 400 relay. The weather still wasn’t the best, but we’re getting in better shape and gaining confidence. We’re still finding things out. The hard work we’ve been doing the past month is starting to pay off.”

Gladstone junior Peyton Takkunen, also part of the 1600 relay, won the 800 (2:37.26), more than three seconds ahead of Esky senior Alisha Mabie.

Braves’ senior Chelsey Demeuse won pole vault (8-6), edging classmate Lucy DeGroot on a tie-breaker. Gladstone freshman Maggie Karl and BR-H sophomore Mira Johnson shared third (7-6).

“I think they’re all going to win this year in different meets,” Murtha said. “Winning the 800 today was huge for Peyton. She needed that to gain a little more confidence.”

Mabie ran season-best times while dominating the 1600 (5:33.49) and 3200 (11:55.28) and anchored the Eskymos to a second-place finish in the 1600 relay.

“I felt 100 percent better today,” she said. “God gave me the strength and pulled me through. I’m very grateful for the improvement. I think getting under 12 in the 3200 was a huge goal. Today was a confidence boost. They ran us together in the 3200 and I was able to pace off some of the boys. Peyton had a great race in the 800. I’m happy for her.”

Senior Marissa Ives, who didn’t make the trip to Sault Ste. Marie April 12, helped BR-H win the 400 and 800 relays.

“I’m coming back from an injury (high ankle sprain) and in week eight of my recovery,” she said. “It feels good to get out and run and build some strength. I’ve been anchoring these relays since eighth grade, but I’m starting off for now. Our handoffs went all right for the first meet.”

Rock Mid Peninsula junior Hope Brunngraeber took shot put at 30-9 and discus (86-4), both personal-bests.

“I feel stronger this year and getting some very good distances in the weight events,” she said. “I’m hoping to hit 90 feet next week and 100 by the end of the year (in disc). My release in shot was very quick, but I need to pick up some speed in disc. It’s a work in progress. I’ve been doing this since eighth grade.”

Esky freshman Andrew Hamlin won boys’ high jump at 6-2 and helped the Eskymos take the 1600 relay.

Junior Ben Sands, also part of that relay, copped the 400 (55.9) and senior William Weise captured the 800 (2:12.85) and helped the winning 3200 relay. Freshman Haidyn Denis added a first in the 300 hurdles (47.6).

“It was closer than we thought it would be,” Esky coach Scott Dykema said. “We put Bryce Bichler in a couple relays and he did well in the 100 and 200. We did real good in the 400 and dropped our time by nearly 10 seconds in the 1600 relay. We really needed the points. We’re getting there in the field events and got a little work to do in the sprint relays. A lot of young guys are stepping up. Although, we need to work on our distances.”

Gladstone senior Aaron Hughes swept the weight events with personal-best tosses in shot put (44-2) and discus (124-3).

The wind kind of didn’t help, although it wasn’t as strong as it was Thursday,” he said. “We were throwing with the wind today which tends to push everything toward the ground. The people I practice with helped me out. I’ve been working pretty hard with repetitions which helps you get into a routine. I had real good speed in the circle. I felt was able to move faster today. Thursday’s meet helped me figure out what I needed to work on. It felt real good throwing today, probably the best I’ve felt. I think this is a good confidence builder.”

Senior Evan Woellfer won long jump (19-4) and helped the Braves sweep the sprint relays. Andrew Karl took long jump (11-0) and Esky freshman Isaac Lambert was runner-up with a personal-best leap of 10-6.

The Braves got an additional first in the 100 from senior Casey Alworden (11.78), who anchored the sprint relays.

“Casey finished strong in the sprint relays,” Braves’ coach Gary Whitmer said. “I was happy to see the guys make up for Thursday’s error (dropped baton) in the 800 relay. Our field events did well. Aaron threw well in shot and disc. We need to pick up the pace in the distances, although we cut more than 10 seconds off in the 3200 relay. The guys gave a good effort. We’re absolutely pleased with our overall effort.”

BR-H sophomore Gionni McDonough copped the 110 hurdles (16.9) and placed second in the 300s (47.67).

Sophomore Ben Knauf provided the Broncos with a first in the 1600 (4:58.13), followed by senior brother Wes Knauf (5:09.39).

Rapid River sophomore Jon Denkins took the 3200 (11:28.54), placed third in the 1600 (5:18.43) and helped the Rockets take second in the 3200 relay.

Holy Name junior Michael Rexford was runner-up in long jump (18-10) and Hannahville’s highest finish was third in the 3200 relay.