Emma Homfeldt became the first state champion for the Calvary Lutheran girls track and field program last season.
To become a back-to-back state champion, the senior will have to do it in a different class.
"The jump to Class 2 is clearly on their mind and I kind of just told them it is what it is and we just have to step up and do what we can," Calvary track coach Kerri Morris said as the Lions and Lady Lions get set to open the season today at Russellville.
Calvary has five returning state girls qualifiers and six for the boys.
Homefeldt ran the 800-meter run and 4x800-meter relay at state last season.
"It's a tall order but that doesn't faze Emma," Morris said of competing in Class 2 this season. "She's competitive. I think you can always count on her. She's going to give it her best."
Homefeldt, junior Sarah Johnson and sophomore Baileigh Morris return to the 4x800 team that placed fifth at state a season ago.
Kerri Morris said newcomer Jaelyn Engelbrecht, a junior, could take the open slot in the 4x800.
"When you've got Emma as your anchor that obviously helps a lot, but Sarah Johnson has always been strong in it," Morris said. "Baileigh matured a lot in that freshman year and I think Jaelyn is going to step in."
Morris said Engelbrecht has the potential to be similar to Johnson, as far as being able to run in several different races.
"She's shown a lot of promise at almost any range," she said.
Also returning state qualifiers for the Lady Lions are senior sprinter Andrea Stanford and jumper/sprinter Katy Allen.
Sydney Duenckel, a junior thrower, came close to making out of districts with a fifth-place finish in the javelin last season.
"She's clearly going to be our strongest in throws," Morris said. "Hard worker. I think she's going to progress really well."
Pacing the boys team is senior Reece Going, who won three state medals last season in the 200, 4x100 and 4x200. He was also part of the state 4x400 team.
"I feel like kids like Reece and Emma are clearly our leaders in a lot of ways," Morris said.
Joining Going in the sprint relays will be senior Sam Felger, junior Noah Gledhill and freshman Connor Parker.
Gledhill, who'll also compete in jumps, moved in from Paw, Paw, Mich.
"He's got a lot of enthusiasm and he's in with a good group of kids," Morris said.
Parker, who'll be in jumping events as well, comes to Calvary after competing in track at Lange Middle School in Columbia.
Even with the newcomers, Morris said she's already seen this group working well together.
"Handoffs look better for this time of the season," she said. "That doesn't mean anything but it makes me feel better that they are already clicking."
Returning from the 4x800 state-qualifying team are sophomores Cole Going, Grant Going, Josh Thieme and Isaiah Barg.
"Grant has really matured," Morris said. "We saw it in cross country and I think it's going to transfer to track."
Cole Going will continue running the distance races.
"Cole has grown a lot and put on a little muscle, and I think the confidence coming into this year to do the two-mile length is going to be there," Morris said.
Calvary Lutheran is in District 3 with Cole Camp, Eugene, Fayette, Hermann, Iberia, Linn, New Bloomfield, Smithton, South Callaway, Stover and Tipton. South Callaway will host.
Calvary has eight meets on its schedule this season.
"A lot of schools moved their meets and so some are doubled up and we had to pick and choose," Morris said. "It just gets hard to find a meet appropriate for our size. Our schedule is a little short this year and I'm still looking for some."
The CCAA conference meet will be April 23 at Southern Boone. Calvary swept the team titles last season.
"It's a hard working group of kids," Morris said. "They have come together really well. This hasn't been the funnest of starts. It's been cold and windy.
"It was out in the rain the other day and I tell them, 'You know what? Jamestown is out in the rain right now, Higbee is out in the rain right now. They want to get at you for the conference title.'"