Boys

Story lines to watch: Two-time defending state team champion Rocky Mountain is loaded again. The Grizzlies' throwing team has the potential to produce big points with the return of four state qualifiers from last year - Eli McCullough, Jake Knight, Adam Lewis and James Tucker. Rocky won the state cross country title in the fall and could translate that success to the track behind standouts such as Jordon Wallin, Josh Wallin and Justin Ross. The Grizzlies also return all but one runner from their state champion 4x100 and 4x800 relays. Watch for last year's state runner-up Eagle to challenge for supremacy as well as a young Capital team - which won the District Three cross country title in the fall. Eagle returns all components from its winning 4x400 state relay team, including senior James Heckendorn, who has committed to Harvard.

Returning state champs from District Three: Heckendorn, Eagle, 400; Thomas Rigby, Boise, 800; McCullough, Rocky Mountain, shot put.

Girls

Story lines to watch: Mountain View won its second team title in a row last year and is expected to be in the mix again with several strong sprinters (Andrea Pikes, Kaylee Widdison) distance runners (Sam McKinnon, Becca Williamson, Erin Hagen) and jumpers (Cambree Harbaugh, Josie Lawrence) back. Eagle could dethrone the Mavericks, however, with the help of sprinter Brittany Rawlins and hurdler/pole vaulter Allison Jeffries, who could each win multiple events. Vallivue's distance group should be among the best after finishing second at the state cross country meet led by Mikayla Malaspina's third-place finish. With the graduation of Borah's Brittany Owens, the long jump and triple jump will be up for grabs for the first time in several seasons. Mountain View's Harbaugh and Capital's Anna Maki will be among the leading contenders for those titles. Rocky could push its way into the team competition with strong numbers and a talented distance group.

Returning state champs from District Three: Rawlins, Eagle, 100; Malaspina, Vallivue, 1,600 and 3,200; Jeffries, Eagle, pole vault.

4A SIC

Boys

Story lines to watch: Skyview finished second at state by eight points to Rigby last year but lost all of its runners from its state champion 4x200, 4x400 and medley relay teams. Reigning state 200-meter champion Dante Carter moved from Skyview to Nampa this season, and cross country standout Alberto De Los Reyes joins the Bulldogs from Caldwell. Kuna is considered an early favorite with several state qualifiers back. Titles will be up for grabs in many events, as 12 of last year's individual state champions were seniors. New head coaches take over at Bishop Kelly (Jeff Carpenter), Columbia (Lincoln Hagood), Emmett (Jim Hines) and Nampa (Dan Holtry).

Returning state champs from District Three: Dante Carter, Nampa, 200.

Girls

Story lines to watch: Bishop Kelly won last year's state team title by a large margin and despite losing distance standouts Emily Nist and Briana Tiffany to graduation should have a strong team again. Sprinters Madelyn Minnaert and Michaela Piechowski each qualified for the finals in the 100 and 200 and hurdler Mikaela Sawyer is back. BK also returns all runners from its winning 4x100 relay and portions of its 4x400 and medley relay teams. Columbia's Rhianna Birch will take over the torch from teammate Alex Van Halder in the 100 and 200. Van Halder won both events last year as a senior and Birch joined her in the finals. Middleton won state cross country in the fall but sisters Lina and Erika Schell - who finished third and eighth, respectively - moved out of state.

Returning state champs from District Three: none.