Staff writer
Seven runners return to the Goessel High School cross country teams that experienced state this past year.
Kristen Hoffman and Lindsey Wedel, both juniors on the girls’ squad, earned individual spots in 2007 at the 1A state meet, and runners retuning from the ninth-place boys’ team at state are senior Anthony Esau, juniors Jared Reimer, Isaac Fast, and Chad Wedel, and sophomore Laird Goertzen.
Greg Bontrager, Goessel’s coach, expects to see some positive results from juniors Derek Kruger and Sara Boman, and sophomore Shanna Klassen.
This year’s team “is incredibly supportive” of each other Bontrager said.
“I have seen runners helping by cheering for each other no matter where they are in the line up,” he said.
Several of the runners participated in the summer weights program.
As in many other years, Bontrager has a difficult time predicting how this year’s team will fare. He commented about the expected success of this season.
“I believe we will have many positive outcomes,” he said.
Goessel’s first meet was Sept. 4 at Clearwater and the Bluebirds will run Thursday at Hesston.