ST. JOSEPH — Host St. Joseph captured the Big 16 Conference boys’ cross country championship Saturday at Riverview Park.

The Bears edged West Division rival Mattawan 46-49 to earn the championship. Sturgis was third with 111 points, Portage Central fourth with 117 and Kalamazoo Central fifth with 122. Niles finished 11th with 299.

Alex Standiford of Mattawan was the overall winner with a time of 15:30. Zach Warner of Portage Central finished a distant second with a time of 16:19. Rounding out the top five were Thomas Meeker of Mattawan (16:21), Chris Pfahler of St. Joseph (16:34) and Charlie Felton of St. Joseph (16:41).

Niles’ Sam VandenHeede placed 13th with a time of 16:54. Matthew McLaughlin was 66th (19:07), Tate Brawley 68th (19:16), Michael Geiger 70th (19:20), Daniel Sierra 82nd (21:04), Nicholas Borkowski 84th (21:13) and Taylor Campbell 85th (21:36).

Ann Marie Arseneau led Sturgis to the girls’ championship as she bested the field by nearly a full minute.

Arseneau claimed the girls’ individual title with a time of 18:38. Coldwater’s Becca Schott was a distant second at 19:02. Brianna Kalisz of Marshall was third (19:33), Ally Peirce of Portage Central fourth (19:41) and Kelsey Keyser of Sturgis fifth (19:41).

The Trojans finished with 84 points as a team, as did Battle Creek Lakeview. Marshall was third with 107, Portage Central fourth with 111 and Mattawan fifth with 114. Niles finished 11th with 278.

Bridgett Carpenter led the Vikings with a 26th place finish and a time of 21:02. Anne Tyler was 56th (22:27), Libby Hein 58th (22:36), Abigail Gaines 67th (23:02), Maureen Craig 71st (23:30), Ava McKeel 74th (23:41) and Joselyn Dlouhy 87th (26:38).

Big 16 Cross Country Championships

At Riverview Park, St. Joseph

Boys’ results

Team scores

St. Joseph 46, Mattawan 49, Sturgis 111, Portage Central 117, Kalamazoo Central 122, Portage Northern 143, Lakeshore 196, Marshall 214, Battle Creek Lakeview 214, Battle Creek Harper Creek 243, Niles 299, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 342, Battle Creek Central 422, Benton Harbor 440, Coldwater DNF

Top 15

1. Alex Standiford (MATT) 15:30, 2. Zach Warner (PC) 16:19, 3. Thomas Meeker (MATT) 16:21, 4. Chris Pfahler (SJ) 16:34, 5. Charlie Felton (SJ) 16:41, 6. Jordan Henning (KC) 16:45, 7. Joseph Beemer (SJ) 16:47, 8. Scott Bradley (BCL) 16:48; 9. Aaron Bell (MATT) 16:49, 10. David Berry (SJ) 16:50, 11. Anderson Lee (KC) 16:50, 12. Benny Richardson (MATT) 16:53, 13. Sam VandenHeede (N) 16:54, 14. Joe Wheatley (MAR) 16:55, 15. Max Mizikar (PN) 17:01

Girls’ results

Sturgis 84, Battle Creek Lakeview 84, Marshall 107, Portage Central 111, Mattawan 114, Portage Northern 156, Coldwater 187, St. Joseph 198, Kalamazoo Loy Norrix 209, Battle Creek Harper Creek 211, Niles 278, Lakeshore 296, Kalamazoo Central 318, Battle Creek Central DNF, Benton Harbor DNF

Top 15

1. Ann Marie Arsenau (S) 18:38, 2. Becca Shott (C) 19:02, 3. Brianna Kalisz (MAR) 19:33, 4. Ally Peirce (PC) 19:41, 5. Kelsey Keyser (S) 19:41, 6. Courtney Volstromer (BCL) 19:47, 7. Jordan Johnson (BCL) 19:48, 8. Lindsay MacMillan (MATT) 19:52, 9. Elley Hinkel (MATT) 20:03, 10. Jade Hubbard (LN) 20:09, 11. Jaycie Littley (C) 20:14, 12. Tevy Wheatley (MAR) 20:16, 13. Kara Kiessling (HC) 20:21, 14. Jennifer Dowsett (SJ) 20:21, 15. Katelyn Dunn (C) 20:27