X-country looks to run the same trail

Saratoga High School's Cross Country team, with hopes of reprising its state-leading performance last year, was in training before the beginning of the school year at Veteran's island Monday.

The team, which is comprised of students from Saratoga Middle/High School, Encampment K-12 school and H-E-M Middle/High School in Hanna, earned its place in the sun during last year's season when it finished first in the state, besting the second place team by a margin of 35 points, a resounding victory by a margin almost unheard of. The boys team finished with 13 points, only three points away from a perfect score.

This year, hopes ride on a repeat, Rex Hohnholt, head coach of the team, said.

"That's always a goal, we have some really good kids so we want to keep that as our goal" Hohnholt said. "I like what I've seen so far and we have some kids, especially young ones, that are ready to step up and help this group be successful.

"And they kind of feed off of each other's energy."

The key to this year's success will likely come from capitalizing on the experience and leadership potential of some of the team's more seasoned athletes, Hohnholt said.

"Rex and Mary Hohnholt do a phenomenal job in training their athletes," Greg Bartlett, athletic director of SMHS said. "They're both exceptional in their knowledge of their sport and year after year they're competing at the state levels."

Hohnholt said he believes the team's biggest single asset is teamwork, which is why the leaders are so important to the development of the team.

"We're excited to start at Green River this week," Hohnholt said.

"Last year the boys won the state cross country match," Bartlett said. "Rex has a big group of boys and smaller group of girls, but they'll be competitive at every meet they go to."

The cross country team's first meet will be the Green River Invite in Green River Friday.