Edgewood returns six starters from the girls’ cross country team that finished 18th at the state meet last fall. The Warriors are younger on the boys’ side but expectations remain high.
Head coach Steve Hill, who is in his 26th year, believes both squads have the ability to achieve their goals this season.
“The girls made it their No. 1 goal to make it back to the state meet for the fourth year in a row. (They) are motivated to keep achieving high goals that they have set forth for themselves,” Hill said. “(The boys) are a young team with a lot of potential and the boys have worked hard this summer to get better. We are excited for the season to begin to achieve the goals the boys have set for themselves.”
Eve Brunell, Lauren Kister, Lydia Randolph Layce Artman, Monica Hamalainen and Vivian Nash all have state meet experience, which should pay off for the Warriors this fall.
Randolph, a junior, finished 142nd at the state meet last season. She holds a personal record of 20:16.
“Lydia is very determined to be the physical leader of this team now that Bailey Roberts has graduated and has put in the miles this summer to achieve that,” Hill said.
Brunell, a senior, placed 121st at the state meet. Her PR is 20:35.
“Eve will become our vocal leader of this team and is primed and ready to take on that responsibility,” Hill said.
Kister, a junior, finished 102nd at the state meet. She has a PR of 19:37.
“Lauren has overcome some struggles during track and is motivated to get back on the course to prove herself,” Hill said.
Edgewood’s boys’ team returns five starters including returning regional qualifiers Griffin Obermiyer and Joey Jafarace.
Obermiyer, a junior, placed 51st at regionals. He’s out to beat his PR of 17:21.
“Griffin has great potential and is still learning the sport,” Hill said. “I am excited to see what he will achieve over the next two years.”
Jafarace, also a junior, placed 70th at regionals and holds a PR of 17:18.
“It is fun to watch Griffin and Joey battle,” Hill said. “They are great teammates who push each other every day to get better.”
Freshman Granison Hill should make an immediate impact for the Warriors. He enters his high school career with a PR of 18:15.
“Granison will come in this year and bring a strong presence to the varsity team that we were missing last year,” Hill said.
