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Steamboat Springs — Coach Andy Reust would like nothing more than for the runners on this year's Steamboat Springs cross-country team to end the season in the same place where they start it.

"I thought it was important for us to travel to the Fossil Ridge meet in Fort Collins," Reust said, referring to Saturday's season-opening meet. "It's where the state meet will be in October, and it's important for our runners to see the course."

Between those two meets, the coach hopes to teach the runners on the team, all 10 of them, the things that will help them make it to state.

"It should be a lot of fun this year. We have some good runners on this team," veteran runner Jack Burger said. "It's a little smaller than last year, but that just means we will have to work a little harder."

Burger said he's been running since he was a freshman and is used to the small size of the Steamboat teams. He would love to see more students participate, but he won't complain about what he has.

"Only five guys can run at state," Burger said. "So it will be us."

With just five boys and five girls, one of Reust's main focuses will be on getting all of the runners at the same meet in order to qualify as a team.

"That's one of the things I'm really working toward," Reust said. "We want to earn team points this year, so we are going to need everyone to show up and everyone to stay healthy."

Gus Allen, Scott Powers, Asher Rohde and freshman Byron Brane will join Burger on the boys team. The girls squad is Katherine Lynch, Cassady Daley, Anne Poirot, Erika Walters and Madi McKinstry.

Lynch said the team is trying to regroup after losing key runners from last season like Brittany Long, Natalie Geer, Liza Stout and Claire Parsons. But she said that doesn't mean this year's team can't be competitive.

"I think in the races we will need to stay together, and we need to pace off one another," Lynch said. "If we can stay together as a team, I think we will be fine."

The boys team also will have to fill a few gaps after losing Charlie Stoddard and John Cutter from last year's squad. But once again the boys are optimistic about the upcoming season.

The team's small size will affect the team in the opening races of the season.

The boys only anticipate four runners making the trip to Fort Collins, and the girls team will only have two.

Reust said it's not ideal, but there isn't much he can do. He hopes to have full boys and girls squads for the team's meet in Douglas County on Sept. 12.

- To reach John F. Russell call 871-4209 or e-mail jrussell@steamboatpilot.com