Tupper Lake wasn’t able to host any meets last year due to construction at L.P. Quinn Elementary School, and while Tuesday’s home opener wasn’t a winner, individual runners were happy with their home debuts.

“I’ve never ran 3 miles like that before, so I thought it was pretty nice,” junior Danielle Roy said after she ran the 3.05-mile course in 33 minutes, 52 seconds. “I’ve done indoor (track) since seventh grade, so I decided to do this this year.

“I don’t play a fall sport, and in indoor I did better than what I have done. So I thought to improve for the next season I would do this to get better. I want to better my time. At the end of the season (I’d like) to have a 26 (minute). But that’s a stretch.”

Junior Sandra Kwasniak was the top finisher in the girls race for the Lumberjacks, placing seventh overall with a time of 24:06. Sara Trabakoulus (25:32) placed 11th in the field of 18, while Roy took 17th and Kassandra Sippler (37:38) placed 18th. Canton’s Claira Royce (20:37) led the field.

Junior Danielle Roy nears the finish line of Tuesday’s three-way home meet between Tupper Lake, Canton and Gouverneur at L.P. Quinn school. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

On the boys’ side, Canton’s Jaden Coldwell (19:24) paced the field of 24, but Tupper Lake junior Patrick Cote (20:10) led the way for the home team. Jayce Clement (22:37) was 14th, Jack Skiff (24:38) placed 18th while teammate Matthew Whitmore finished in 19th just 10 seconds behind Skiff.

Tupper boys rounded out the field with Connor Jessie (31:51) in 22nd, and twins Brandon Boudreau (35:47) placing 23rd while brother Colby Boudreau pulled out a gutsy finish in 40:47.

Cote, who has been on the team since seventh grade, said he was pleasantly surprised by his time near the 20-minute mark.

“I think I ran good. This was my baseline, and I was really worried,” Cote said. “But I got out there and my coaches helped pace me. I thought I was going to be just above 20 (minutes).

“(The coaches) push us to where we need to be. I think this was a good way to start it off.”

Tupper Lake junior Patrick Cote is all smiles as he reaches the finish line of the Lumberjacks’ first home meet in two years. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)

The Lumberjacks travel to Gouverneur for a multi-school meet next Wednesday.

Jack Skiff grinds it out at the finish line Tuesday evening in Tupper Lake. (Enterprise photo — Justin A. Levine)