A lot of exciting things have happened in the Bismarck High boys cross country program the past three years.

One of the most rewarding elements for co-coaches Darrell Anderson and Dave Zittleman have been watching Devin Huizenga progress as a runner.

Huizenga, who just entered his senior year, has been a team member since he was a freshman. In that time, he's been an key cog in helping the Demons win three straight Class A state championships.

Huizenga is looking to end his cross country career with a fourth team title.

"Devin is not a natural phenom guy," said Darrell Anderson. "He's improved because he has done the work. He's been patient, and he's hung in there."

Bismarck's top runner, Joash Osoro, enters the season as the defending individual champ. Huizenga comes in as the Demons' No. 2 runner. Huizenga finished fourth at the state meet last season.

Osoro was ranked No. 1 in the first coaches poll of the season. Huizenga is sitting at No. 2.

Osoro won the 1,600- and 3,200-meter runs last spring at the Class A state track meet while competing for St. Mary's. Huizenga finished runner-up.

Osoro runs cross country for Bismarck as part of a co-op.

Huizenga is looking to hang with Osoro this fall on the cross country course.

"In cross country it doesn't bother me," Huizenga said of finishing behind Osoro. "He's one of my teammates, and it's less points for our team."

Huizenga and Osoro have developed a strong working relationship. Both trained together during the summer months.

"We ran together every day with the team," said Huizenga, who logged more than 65 miles a week. "On weekends we would run together. There's some days I didn't want to run, and he'd drag me out.

"When you have a runner of that caliber on your team, you strive to be as good as them,"Huizenga added.

Anderson said he has noticed nothing but a positive relationship between Huizenga and Osoro.

"They don't despise each other,"Anderson said. "They respect the greatness in each other. If they want a peak performance, they know they need each other. We have two tremendous talents to lead our team."

The Demons field five returners who all qualified by time for the 3,200 this spring Osoro, Huizenga, Christian Brown Otter, Josh Nuss and Josh Hintz.

Coty Hintz, who placed 53rd at last season's state cross country meet, will also be an important competitor for the Demons.

Huizenga has been pleased with how the entire team has prepared itself to defend its state title.

"We lost seniors who were important to the team last year,"Huizenga said. "When you're the three-time defending champ, you hope there is some added pressure on you. The people we've been running with have a good attitude."

Anderson knows that all the teams in the state will be gunning for the Demons. He and Zittleman are trying to prevent a hiccup.

"Can it happen? Sure," Anderson said. "We have to respect everybody else."

Bismarck Demons

Co-coaches: Darrell Anderson, 29th year; and Dave Zittleman, sixth year.

2007:State champs.

Top returnees: Joash Osoro, sr. (state champ). Devin Huizenga, sr., (four). Josh Nuss, sr. (15th). Christian Brown Otter, jr. 23rd. Josh Hintz, jr. (38th). Coty Hintz, sr. (53rd).

Notes: BHS will be aiming for its fourth straight title. … Osoro and Huizenga are ranked 1-2 in the first North Dakota coaches' poll, respectively. .. Osoro placed first at the Nike Team National Heartland regional meet. … The Demons were just 22 points away from qualifying for the NTN national meet.

Century Patriots

Coach: Brad Lies, seventh year.

2007: Fifth at state.

Top returnees: Brent Kelly, jr. (14th). Alex Bray, fr. (third). Levi Sether, so. (35th).

Notes: "We've know we have three good runners," Lies said. "We have to find a little bit of depth. We lost some key components off last year's team. It all depends on at the end of the year and how the kids perform."

Dickinson Midgets

Coach: Shawn Leiss, second year.

2007: Tenth at state.

Top returnees: Jake Braunberger, sr. (11th). Zachary Davis, sr. (37th). Austin Mack, eighth-grader (64th). Vlad Kutka, fr. (65th). Greg Hanson, sr. (76th). Austin Simonieg, sr. (111th). Royce Havelka, jr. (107th).

Notes: Mack was Dickinson's third runner last season at state and West Region as a seventh-grader. … The Midgets didn't lose any competitors to graduation.

Jamestown Blue Jays

Coach:Ken Gardner, second year.

2007:Third at state.

Top returnees: Jordan Slusser, sr. (17th). Justin Slusser, sr. (third). Ben Larson, sr. (39th). Spencer Kamoni, jr. (25th). Colin Hillius, jr. (21st). Cory Goehner, so. (115th). Alec Redmann, so.

Notes: Justin Slusser is recovering from a bone bruise on one of his knees. … Hillius got off to a late start because of his commitment to summer baseball. … The Blue Jays return their top five runners from state meet.

Mandan Braves

Coach: Jon Kihne, 27th year.

2007: Eleventh at state.

Top returnees: James Belohlavek, sr. (123rd). Dylan Schafer, sr. (133rd). David Stockdill, jr. (60th). Justin Moore, so. (124th). Joseph Berger, fr. (95th). Dylan Schultz, eighth-grader (160th).

Notes: Mandan graduated three seniors, including most of its top scorers. …Mandan has just eight runners in grades 9-12. … Kihne said:"We're pretty green. We've got good junior high runners, but they are a ways away yet. We just need some race experience to try to improve."

Minot Magicians

Coach: Aaron Klingbeil, third season.

2007:Fourth at state.

Top returnees: Josh Beaudoin, sr. (ninth). Chris Johnson, sr. (19th).

Notes: The Magicians have two new additions to its team. Seth Hill moved to Minot with his family from Virginia, and Max Boeckel joined the team as part of a co-op agreement with Our Redeemer's.

Turtle Mountain Braves

Coach: Chad Davis, first season.

2007:Fifteenth at state.

Top returnees: Christian Davis, so. (118th).

Notes: The majority of the Braves are freshmen and sophomores. … Coach Davis said:"We are young and trying to identify ourselves, especially with myself coming in. I'm trying to get acquainted with the runners."

Williston Coyotes

Coach: Clint Chamberlin, 32nd season.

2007: Second at state.

Top returnees: Taylor Thompson, sr. (eighth). Mark Anderson, sr. (10th). Caleb Shaffer, so. (74th). Nathan Donnelly, so. (128th).

Notes: The Coyotes graduated their Nos. 4-5-6 runners from last season. … Their top four runners put on 200-350 miles this summer.

- Compiled by Cindy Peterson