Baldwin

The defending Class 4A state champions in both boys and girls appear loaded once again for the 2004 season. The girls side has five runners returning who placed in the top 15 at the Frontier League meet and in the top 40 at state — senior Missy Westgate and Lesley Haeffner, junior Amy Craig and Denise Orloff and sophomore Kelsey Verhaeghe.

The boys side has equal talent returning, led by all-staters Brian Gerstner, Keith Cowart and Zac Towns. Senior Sam Hinton also returns after placing 35th at state last year.

De Soto

The Wildcat boys will be led once again by Casey Johnson, a senior who was the Kaw Valley League champion and sixth-place finisher at the Class 4A state meet. … Following him will be KVL medalists Donnie Gardner and Tanner McNamara. … The De Soto boys have six of their top seven runners back, with two freshman expected to make an impact as well.

The girls team has five runners who have medaled at past KVL meets, including last year’s runner-up, sophomore Morgan Frehe. Junior Carrie Wilbert was the team’s lone state qualifier a year ago.

Eudora

The Eudora girls, though still young, return a lot of talent, led by juniors Cara Seats and Megan Ballock and sophomore Brittney Graff. As a freshman, Graff finished 20th at a loaded Class 4A state meet.

The boys will be young, too, and will have to cover up the loss of all-state runner Tighe VanAnne. Sophomores Cody Burns and Tim DeArmond and junior Sean Wiard look to lead the pack.

Oskaloosa

The Bears’ boys team lost Skyler Wassmer to graduation, but the team still has a good mix of returning talent and newcomers, led by seniors Shawn Stottlemire and Peter Green. Juniors Joe Crawford and Andrew Adam also could make noise.

The girls side has a young look, with April Kruse being the lone senior. Junior Erika Engelken and sophomore Monica Ruis also are expected to contribute. Said coach Marvin Keehn, “We have some athletes who worked hard over the summer, and I am anxious to see how they can perform at the meets.”

Ottawa

The Ottawa girls will be without leader Lisa Morrisey, who moved on to Kansas University after a great high school career. … The Cyclones do have their next three runners back, though, including senior Jenna Allegre, Ashley Guenther and Chelsy Coen.

The Cyclone boys will go into the season looking for senior RC Van Ostram, junior Jack Sachse and sophomore Matt Wahweotten to lead the pack.

Tonganoxie

The Chieftain boys return four state qualifiers from 2003 — senior Andy Kolman, junior Corey Brest, senior Matt Chenoweth and sophomore John Davis. In addition, senior Levi Huseman returns to round out the top five.

The girls side sees the return of its top runner, sophomore Jennifer Wagner, as well as juniors Megan Holton and Kelley Stauch, who both medaled at numerous meets last year.

Wellsville

The Eagle girls return their top two runners in senior Kimberly Hughes and sophomore Aubrey Poor, both All-Frontier league picks in 2003. Hughes placed 20th at the Class 3A state meet and earned Journal-World All-Area honors for her season.

The boys team has just one senior — Jerad Livingston — but return four runners who had strong regional performances last year — Livingston, juniors Nate Whalen and Colton Rice and sophomore Keith Roecker.