Winner Area cross country is starting to put in the miles as they prepare for the first meet of the season.
Coach Jady Schuyler has a good nucleus of lettermen returning. They include Saige Schuyler, Sidda Schuyler, JaclynLaprath, Charlotte Shopene, Aryn Meiners, Meagan Blare, Megan Brozik, Katherine Jankauskas, Gabby Kocer and Madison Thieman.
On the boys side, the returning lettermen are senior Wyatt Tunquist, Kade Watson and Dawson Phillips.
The only loss from last year was Atlas Willuweit.
The first meet in the Winner Invitational on Aug. 24.
Last year the girls team took fifth place at state and Sidda Schuyler placed 4th and Laprath, 24th.
The boys team had three state qualifiers—Kade Watson, who placed 16th; Wyatt Turnquist and Dawson Phillips.
The girls team has won the regions the past two years and Coach Schuyler says that is a goal again this year along with placing at state.
The team started practice on Thursday and have been doing practice twice a day.
Reagan Nielsen is the assistant coach.
The cross country schedule includes:
Aug. 24—Winner Invitational
Aug. 28—at McCook Central
Sept. 4—at Scotland
Sept. 8—at Sioux Falls
Sept. 13—at Chamberlain
Sept. 15—at Lyman
Sept. 22—at Platte-Geddes
Sept. 25—at Todd County
Sept. 27—at Burke/South Central
Oct. 1—at Mt. Vernon/Plankinton
Oct. 4—at Parkston
Oct. 11—Regional at Chamberlain
Oct. 20—State meet in Sioux Falls