Quitman Cross Country Coach Michael Scott has high expectations for his girls and boys teams this fall.

The girls’ team lost two runners from last year which finished 5th in the state meet at Old Settlers Park in Round Rock.

“We are pretty excited about this year’s season. We have a lot of kids returning and we have six freshmen girls running this time. These girls are all so competitive. They don’t talk much but they are winners,” Scott said. “When we go to meets now we don’t go to just beat the other squads. Opponents know we are there to compete as soon as we get off the bus. The girls push each other to do their best. We are looking for a return trip to Round Rock.”

Leading the girls this year are Braleigh Wood and Katie De Gorostiza. Last year, Wood battled through the season against teammate Maddy Pence, who is now running at Southern Arkansas University. State medalist Wood has become one of the premier female runners, not just in East Texas, but in Class 3A around the state, and she is only a sophomore.

Scott also likes the opportunities for the boys’ team. “On the boy’s side I have two senior leaders on the team. They are Dakota Jimenez and Christian Plata. They compete against each other and try to record a personal best time each meet. It makes them both better,” Scott said. “As long as we compete with each other we will be good against any opposition.”

Scott has scheduled tough meets to give the runners plenty of competition. They travel to Tyler Legacy (6A); Whitehouse (5A), UT-Arlington (all classifications) and Sulphur Springs (5A) before hosting the district meet Oct. 7.

Region will be held at Lynn Creek Park in Arlington and the state meet back at Round Rock.