—Messenger photo by Britt Kudla Returning letterwinners for the St. Edmond cross counry team are (left to right): Olivia Kolacia, Audrey Kolacia, Riley Mayer, Abby Landwehr and Jill Cosgrove.

The St. Edmond cross country teams enter the season at opposite ends of the spectrum, but head coach Mike Szalat likes the direction both are headed in.

The Gael girls return five letterwinners from a team that finished sixth at state in Class 1A a season ago. The boys, meanwhile, have only one runner with varsity experience under his belt.

The girls, who are ranked 10th in the IATFCC preseason poll, are searching for their fourth straight state appearance.

Junior Abby Landwehr, senior Audrey Kolacia and senior Riley Mayer are back for the Gaels after a strong 2016 campaign.

“The last few years, we have been a three-headed monster with Abby, Audrey and Riley,” Szalat said. “You’d be hard-pressed to find any runners that have been as consistent and solid as Audrey and Riley. They are our captains. Abby is still young; she still has two years left.

“They came to me and wanted to try to get more girls to run during the summer, and as a result, this has been the best summer for (participation and preparation) since I’ve been here.”

Landwehr finished 21st at state in 2016, a year after grabbing 20th as a freshman. Mayer placed 25th, and Kolacia was 44th.

Also returning for the Gaels are sophomore Olivia Kolacia and junior Jill Cosgrove. Olivia was a state participant as well.

“I think our four and five have closed the gap — more so than in the past,” Szalat said. “I think we’ll start out closer as a tight group.

“We will continue to do what we’ve done in the past. I’m looking forward to where we end up.”

On the boys side, sophomore Jonah Hindt is the lone runner back with any experience.

“We have no letterwinners back, so obviously we are rebuilding,” Szalat said. “We’re going to be better than what appears on paper. There are not a lot of expectations publicly, but we have the goal to make it to state every year.

“We have a proud tradition, and want to uphold it.”

Szalat sees freshman Ryan Duckett, sophomore Jed Tracy and junior Nate Montgomery as the squad’s early frontrunners.

“Those three have taken the lead,” Szalat said. “Then there are literally two handfuls of guys that are in line for the rest of the spots.”

The Gaels open the season on Thursday when travel to Gowrie for the Southeast Valley Invitational.

2017 ST. EDMOND CROSS COUNTRY

Girls Roster

Seniors — Audrey Kolacia, Riley Mayer.

Juniors — Jill Cosgrove, Abby Landwehr, Sidney Messerly.

Sophomores — Clare Condon, Olivia Kolacia.

Freshmen — Jacey Ash, Lizzie Gailey, Leah Johnson, Kelli Kersten, Maggie Lennon, Sydney Schulte.

Boys Roster

Seniors — Sam Loerts, Jake Szalat.

Juniors — Chris Baker, Nick Bennett, Jackson Kochendorfer, Matt Kornder, Nate Montgomery, Mitchell Rasmussen, Aaron Simpson.

Sophomores — Connor Bocken, Cooper Fleming, Jonah Hindt, Jack Stackhouse, Jed Tracy.

Freshmen — Ryan Duckett, Anthony Lacina, Rick Xu.

Schedule

(Meets begin at 5 p.m. unless noted)

Aug. 24 — at Southeast Valley; Aug. 29 — at Webster City.

Sept. 9 – at Holstein (Ridge View), 9 a.m.; 18 — at Humboldt; 25 — at Algona.

Oct. 5 — St. Edmond; 10 — NCC meet at Algona; 19 — Districts.