There is plenty of experience on hand as the White River High cross country squad puts in the necessary miles leading up to the start of a new season.

The strength, from a numbers standpoint, appears to sit on the girls side of the ledger. There are several familiar faces returning from last year’s squad that placed eighth at districts, earned a berth in the Class 3A state meet and eventually claimed 14th place in the season-ending meet in the Tri-Cities.

Back for another campaign are top runner Lauryn Wate, now a sophomore, Kelly Coyle and Kelsey Smith. Each ran for the Hornets at state.

The Hornet boys team didn’t qualify for state a season ago, but two members of the team – sophomore Marcus Dickson and senior Sterling Frye – earned individual berths. Both are back this year. They’re joined by returning varsity runners Kody Gould and Shane Coyle.

Veteran coach Dameon Marlow doesn’t have great numbers to work with, with 30-plus athletes in the fold during the first week of turnouts, but he’s hoping to pick up additional runners during this first week of school.

Both Hornet teams finished 7-1 in South Puget Sound League 3A dual meets last year, the girls falling to Enumclaw and the boys losing to Peninsula.

This year’s action gets under way Tuesday with a jamboree at Nolte State Park outside Enumclaw. White River will host a nonleague meet Sept. 16 that will include Yelm, Auburn Mountainview and Franklin Pierce.

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