MARQUETTE — It was a birthday to remember for Ella Fure as she regained her Great Northern Conference cross country title on her home course here Thursday.

The Marquette High School senior, who just turned 17, covered the 3.1-mile course at Presque Isle Park in 18:53.9 on this sunny, windy and seasonably cool afternoon.

Her latest effort was the fastest time recorded by a Marquette female runner at Presque Isle, but slightly more than five seconds away from the course record (18:48.8) by Emily Paupore of Negaunee in the 2019 Marquette County meet.

Lindsey Rudden had the previous best time by a Marquette runner at Presque Isle (19:09.5) a decade ago.

This marked the second GNC championship for Fure, who placed third a year ago after winning as a sophomore in 2023.

“My goal was to go ou

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