Many of Jefferson City's cross country runners will race in their first varsity competition today in the season opener for the Jays and Lady Jays.
That's what happens when six of the top seven boys graduate, four of the top seven girls graduate and another moves out of the district.
But that doesn't mean Jefferson City isn't still going after a district title and a state trophy.
"We've got a city championship too, in my opinion," Jefferson City cross country coach Brett Phillips said ahead of today's CMAC Kickoff meet at Gans Creek Cross Country Course in Columbia. "I want to beat Capital City and Helias every single time. I want to be the best team in Jeff City.
"And then we want to be the best team in the conference. That is not as important as the district title, though. I never want that to get confused. Then we want to go ahead and advance and do as well as we can at the state meet."
The Jays won a district title and finished seventh at the Class 4 state championship meet last season at Gans Creek, the first state meet on that Columbia course.
Tommy Roehl, who was the Jays' top state finisher in 27th, is the lone returner from that team.
"He's very legitimate," Phillips said. "He's real good. He exploded right out there as a freshman. And as a sophomore he was our No. 1 runner."
The three leading seniors for the Jays are Andrew Nield, Jimmy Knoll and Henry Stier.
"They were taught how to do things the right way by some good leaders the previous two years, and they also set a pretty good tone and they practice the correct way," Phillips said. "The commitment is there."
Another strong contender at the top for the Jays is freshman Seth Stumbaugh, who was fast in the team's time trials last week.
There are 14 runners on the boys team, while there are 10 girls battling for a varsity spot.
The Lady Jays' lone senior is Chasity Pendleton, who placed 60th in the district meet last season.
"She's done a lot of work and looks like she's as fit as she has ever been," Phillips said. "She's definitively our leader on a girls side and team captain, and she's going to set the tone the correct way."
Ellie Plume is one of the top returners as well after taking 71st at the district meet as a sophomore.
"She's also a great kid, great leader," Phillips said. "So those two set the tone at practice and they're going to set the tone for the season for us. They work hard and do things the right way."
Following her lead is a trio of freshmen that are expected to be key varsity members: Ella Jobe, Adelaide Jones and Emma Hunnard.
"We've just got to grind and make sure we're making the sacrifices in practice that enable us to go ahead and push through the pain to race," Phillips said.
Jefferson City is scheduled to host two meets this season at Cole County Park: the Jim Marshall Invitational on Sept. 5 and the district meet in October.
Jefferson City is also schedule to compete in the Southern Stampede in Joplin and the Gans Creek Classic, which will also serve as the first Central Missouri Activities Conference meet.
The CMAC is made up of Jefferson City, Helias, Capital City, Rock Bridge, Hickman, Battle and Sedalia Smith-Cotton.
Jefferson City will find out its district assignment Sept. 18.
"I'm just concerned about doing everything that I can to make sure that we get a season for our kids to get some competitions," Phillips said. "That right there is more important than anything else. Because after having lost school and track and field and all the sports in the spring, I saw the negative impact that has on athletes and students and people in general. I want the next practice and I want the next meet."