Bismarck Demons

Coach: Scott Reichenberger, 11th year.

2007: State champs.

Top returnees: Sarah Feeney, sr. (sixth at state). Brooklyn Beehler, so. (seventh). Alexa Wachter, jr. (12th). Taylor Pintar, jr. (15th). Alana Fischer, so. (17th). Casie Gates, jr. (30th). Maddy Gendreau, so. (32nd). Lindsay Achtenberg, jr. (51st).

Notes: Bismarck won its first state championship since 1984 last year. The Demons placed second the three previous seasons. … BHS returns nine of its top 10 runners. … Achtenberg was an all-stater in 2006. She battled a lower leg injury last season, as did Pintar.

Century Patriots

Coach: Julie Stavn, 26th year.

2007: Seventh at state.

Top returnees: Andrea Markwart, so. (eighth). Nikki Huelsman, jr. (60th). Chelsea Boger, so. (42nd). Jenna Goecke, so. (89th). Tana Grenz, jr. (61st).

Notes: CHS fields eight freshmen on its roster. … The Patriots have 24 runners on their squad.

Dickinson Midgets

Coach: Shawn Leiss, second year.

2007: Fifth at state.

Top returnees: Dakota Wolf, sr. (13th). Stormie Sickler, so. (47th) Ally Hoffmann, so. (54th) Hayley Anderson, so. (37th) Whitney Schatz, fr. (21st).

Notes: Sickler, Hoffmann and Anderson are already veterans. They got their first taste of varsity experience midway through their seventh-grade year. … Wolf returns as DIckinson's top runner.

Jamestown Blue Jays

Coach: Ken Gardner, second year.

2007: Sixth at state.

Top returnees: Lindsay Kautzman, sr. (27th). Sadie Slind, sr. Leah Entzel, jr. (118th). Lexy Hastings, so. (36th). Marissa O'Neill, so. (56th). Ashley Mueller, so. (112). Alison Allmer, eighth grade.

Notes: Junior Marie Monson, a former volleyball player, is new to cross country this season. Coach Gardner said Monson will help give the Blue Jays some added depth.

Mandan Braves

Coach: Brian Oswald, fourth year.

2007: Fifteenth at state.

Top returnees: Lindsey Altringer, jr. (93rd). Hayley Schulz, jr. (107th). Katarina Nyberg, jr. (138th). Brittany Rhoden, so. (108th). Taylor Vasichek, so. (115th). Allison Wanner, fr. (142nd). Rachel Wingenbach, fr. (126th).

Notes: Mandan has just 10 runners with no seniors, three juniors, four sophomores and three freshmen.

Minot Majettes

Coach: Glee Mayer, 16th year.

2007: Third at state.

Top returnees: Steph Greer, sr. (ninth). Brecca Wahlund, so. (14th). Melanah Poole, sr. (45th). Ashley Brey, jr. (38th).

Notes: Minot graduated top runner Melanie Funke, who won state titles as a freshman and sophomore. … The Majettes will travel to two large meets in Minnesota this season.

Turtle Mountain Bravettes

Coach: Chad Davis, first year.

2007: Sixteenth at state.

Top returnees: None.

Notes: The Bravettes field 20 freshmen and sophomores and two juniors. … Davis had coached at Class B Dunseith. … Davis said: "We are pretty young. It's more of a let's-look-and-see-what-happens season."

Williston Coyotes

Coach: Al Knutson, 18th year.

2007: Thirteenth at state.

Top returnees: Mari Goldade, sr. (67th). Whitney Harrison, jr. Hailey Horob, fr. (55th). Angie Goebel, jr. Riley Ceglowski, eighth grade (81st). Shantha Trottier, fr. (99th).

Notes: Harrison, a two-time all-state runner, missed last season with knee problems. … The Coyotes field 19 runners total. … Coach Knutson: "I think we will be quite a bit improved from our season a year ago. We don't have that person who will place in the top five right now, but we have four, five, six girls who are solid runners."

- Compiled by Cindy Peterson