5A boys

2011 state champion: Coeur d’Alene

2011 individual state champion: Highland’s Dallin Farnsworth (graduated)

2011 District Three team champion: Eagle

2011 individual district champion: Rocky Mountain’s Justin Ross (returning)

Teams to watch:

• Boise returns five runners who qualified for state last season, led by state runner-up Thomas Rigby, a senior.

• Three seniors, one junior and three sophomores return for Capital, and the addition of a pair of freshmen could put the Eagles in contention.

• Rocky Mountain lost just one runner from a team that finished fifth at state in 2011, returning Ross (4th), David Covert (18th), Nate Quist (33rd), Jordon Wallin (42nd), Camron Pearce (55th) and Trevan Reese (69th).

• Timberline has one of the largest turnouts in program history, headlined by senior Brennen Keen (14th), who should form a strong front three alongside juniors Elijah Benson and Andrew Rafla.

Other runners to watch: Meridian sophomore Dwain Stucker (9th); Capital senior David Steele (19th); Borah junior Sam Powell (21st).

5A girls

2011 state champion: Boise

2011 individual state champion: Boise’s Emily Hamlin (returning)

2011 District Three team champion: Boise

2011 individual district champion: Hamlin

Teams to watch:

• Boise has five runners back from its championship team, including individual winner Emily Hamlin, a sophomore, senior Dessie Weigel (19th at state) and sophomore Sienna White (18th).

• Mountain View placed third at state a year ago and returns five runners, including junior Sam Mckinnon (22nd) and senior Angie McGraw (15th).

• Rocky Mountain did not qualify for state last year, but did send senior Dana Snell (17th) and junior Paige Dilmore (35th) as individuals. Both runners are back, along with juniors Katie Mower and Paige Brock.

• Twenty of the program’s 23 runners are back for Timberline, including seniors Louisa Serpe (7th) and Lilly Ball (11th).

• Vallivue has the potential to claim the top spot with five runners back from last year’s fifth-place team and several strong additions. Sophomore Mikayla Malaspina (2nd) should contend for an individual title along with senior Cheryn Trapp (12th).

Other runners to watch: Eagle sophomore Megan Dupree (20th); Borah senior Mckenzie Carruthers (26th).

Meets to watch

Jimmy Driscoll Invitational, Bishop Kelly, Saturday; Steven Thompson Memorial Centipede Race, Les Bois Park, Sept. 12; Bob Firman Invitational, Eagle Island, Sept. 22; State meet, Hells Gate State Park, Lewiston, Oct. 27.