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BURGIN
Coach: Chris Beckerson
Top returnees: Alex Beckerson, Fr.; Jon Beckerson, Sr.; Nate Kibler, Sr.; Devan Lay, Jr.; Travis McEachern, So.; Seth Royalty, Fr.; Austin Shewmaker, So.
Notes: Burgin returns eight of the top nine runners from a team that won three invitationals, captured its first regional title and finished ninth in the state among Class A boys teams. ... Alex Beckerson was third in his regional race and 28th in the state as an eighth-grader. ... Other contributors will include freshman Jared Powell.
Coach's comment: "Like any team sport, the deeper your talent is, the better you do, and with eight strong in a sport where they only score the top five, we should do very well in meets again this year. I am very pleased with the first three weeks of practice. (Alex Beckerson) had a very good track season and is looking to continue to improve his time and position within the meets."
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CASEY COUNTY
Coach: Matt Willoughby
Top returnees: Aaron Franklin, Jr.; Dakota Singleton, Sr.; Zach Vaught, Jr.; Nolan Weddle, Sr.
Notes: Weddle was 15th in his region and 74th in the Class AA boys state race after suffering an ankle injury late last season. ... Casey was seventh in the regional team standings but returns most of its leading runners.
Coach's comment: I think our boys team should do well this year. We have a lot of returning athletes and a few new ones that should be able to help us right away.
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DANVILLE
Coach: Ed McKinney
Top returnees: Byron Hempel, Sr.; Karl Hempel, So.; Max Meckes, Jr.; Wright Williams, So.
Notes: Karl Hempel led the team in its regional last year with a 19th-place finish. ... The team finished only fourth in its region, but graduated only two runners. ... Three of its four returnees are also soccer players. ... Byron Hempel and Jamel Grey are the only seniors.
Coach's comment: "We've got a chance to be pretty good. We've got to replace a senior or two, and a lot of it depends on how much (the soccer players) get to run. The sophomores, with Karl, Wright and Dylan (Crowe), have a chance to be a good class.
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LINCOLN COUNTY
Coach: John Sanders
Top returnees: Skyler Caudill, Fr.; Rick Foley, So.; Tim Grizzell, So.; Eric Sanders, Sr.
Notes: Four of seven runners from last year's postseason roster return, led by Eric Sanders, the team's only senior, who was fifth in his region and 108th in the Class AAA boys state race. ... Other experienced underclassmen are sophomore Brad Foster and freshman Nolan Sanders.
Coach's comment: "They're all veterans, they've run last year and they know all the local courses pretty good."
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MERCER COUNTY
Coach: Bill Smith
Top returnees: Jacob Crowell, 8th; Harlan Holiday, Jr.; Lee McGinnis, Jr.; Dean Tyler, 8th;
Notes: Tyler led Mercer in its regional last season in 30th place. ... Freshmen Bryant Qualls and Anthony Smith, part of a successful middle school distance relay team in track this spring, add to the team's depth, and Bill Smith expects other runners to come out when practice opens Monday.
Coach's comment: "We're definitely looking at big improvements. This is the first time in 12 years or so we feel like we've got a shot to qualify a team for the state meet."
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GIRLS
BOYLE COUNTY
Coach: Grace Jameson
Top returnees: Courtney Ballard, Jr.; Emily Hall, So.; Lena Hutchins, Fr.; Emily Wesley, Sr.
Notes: Hutchins was fourth in Boyle's regional as an eighth-grader last year, and the team finished fourth as well. ... Seventh-grader Nikki Coffey and freshman Sabrina Hendricks are also expected to contribute. As with the boys, several young, first-time runners have come out for the team.
Coach's comment: "Unfortunately our girls team battled injuries last year, and we are hoping this year these young ladies will be able to show their potential. Our girls team will be a very young team. We are looking forward to seeing what (it) can do this year."
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BURGIN
Coach: Chris Beckerson
Top returnee: MacKenzie Kibler, 7th.
Notes: Burgin will compete at the high school level for the first time in more than five years. ... Kibler is joined by two first-year runners, sophomore Emma Holland and eighth-grader Megan Hughes.
