There's only one way the Mancos boys cross-country team can top last year's second place state finish.
And with all of last year's varsity runners returning, the Blue Jays are ambitious.
"I think their goal is to be right in the mix of being the top team in the state," head coach Brady Archer said.
Leading the squad will be senior Ro Paschal, who in 2014 won four regular season meets, set two meet records, placed second at regionals and finished seventh in the state in Class 2A.
Alongside Pashcal will be sophomore Simon Kearns and senior Nic Arculeta, who finished 13th and 18th at last year's state meet, and senior Asa Kearns, sophomore Jake McKie and senior Zane Goodell, who also ran in last year's state competition.
Rounding out the boys' team will be Vincent Grego, Andrew Christensen, Caleb Yoder, Zane Wilson, Alex Fleitz, Luke Christensen, Brandon Sehnert, Joseph Knezek and Teslin Stecher.
Archer is happy to have such great numbers for a class 2 school, and sees the boys' depth as a strength.
"I think that the depth pays off and it pushes everybody," explained Archer. "Even though we have a bunch of seniors this year, there are definitely those sophomores that push those guys to make sure they're improving."
While the Mancos girls' cross-country team lacks the depth the boys' team is blessed with, they do have experience.
Juniors Emma Most, Hannah Skinner and Jessalyn Bay-Voit all return to lead the girls' team, after Most took 32nd in state last year and Skinner finished 54th.
Archer also pointed out that Bay-Voit ran at the state meet as a freshman in 2013, and that Most has qualified for the state in both track and cross-country.
"Even though there's no seniors out there and we don't have a lot of depth," said Archer. "All of those girls have been there and know what it takes to get there."
The three returning juniors were the only members of last year's team, but the team will double in size by adding juniors Brittany Peacock, Mimi Archuleta and Kaylee Rose.
With last year's varsity runners returning to both teams, and with additions to the girls' group, Archer is hopeful that both teams can end their seasons in Colorado Springs at the state championship.
"It'd be nice to have both teams at state," he said. "We haven't had that in four years."
