Treasure Valley high school cross country teams consistently produce state championship hardware in the 5A and 4A divisions, and there's little reason to expect that trend to end this season.

The five-time defending 4A state champion Bishop Kelly girls and three-time 5A defending champion Boise girls have eyes on the top prize again, and Boise's boys appear ready to make it back to the top of the podium for the second time in three years. Meanwhile, several large-school runners should be in contention for individual crowns.

Eastern schools dominated last year's 3A and 2A state meets and appear ready to do the same this year.

5A GIRLS

Boise returns three of its top four runners after running away with its third consecutive state championship, but District Three foes Eagle and Mountain View are primed for big seasons.

Neither Eagle or Mountain View, which finished second and third at state last year, graduated any runners from their respective top seven.

While those three teams appear headed for a dogfight at the state meet, which returns to Eagle Island State Park on Nov. 1.

Nielsen, who placed second at the 2006 and 2007 state cross country meets and owns back-to-back championship at 1,600 and 3,200 meters, raised the bar this summer. She said she hit the weights hard and increased her mileage.

"I definitely feel like I have more muscles than I've had in the past, not that you can tell," the sinewy senior said. "It's nice to have that extra strength, because it gives me a little extra courage on the course."

5A BOYS

Boise lost the state championship to Twin Falls by three points last fall, but with the entire varsity team back in the fold, the Braves are the team to beat this season.

Leading the pack is junior Eric Fitzpatrick, who is fresh off winning the 1,600 and 3,200 state championships in May. He'll be followed closely all season by Boise seniors Greg Montgomery and Max Hardy, who both finished in the top 10 last season.

The entire varsity team and a couple junior varsity runners attended a running camp in Oregon in late July, but it wasn't a team-building exercise.

"We don't do a lot of team-building, because we're already a very tight team," Hardy said. "That camp was a lot about character and it was tough."

4A GIRLS

Bishop Kelly has won the past five state championships, but a close call last fall nearly ended the streak.

The Knights edged Preston by two points in 2007 and both teams return all but one runner. BK graduated its sixth finisher from last season, while Preston graduated its third finisher.

Not surprisingly, both teams have strong candidates for the individual title. Preston seniors Kaylee Campbell and Allie Ford placed second and fifth last season. Bishop Kelly senior Codi Gifford returns after finishing fourth in 2007 and junior Lara Tuthill is back after a sixth-place finish.

4A BOYS

Columbia senior Barak Watson, who is home-schooled, hasn't competed at a state cross country meet, but the reigning 4A state champion in the 3,200 enters this season among the favorites. And Watson's senior teammate Lars Lunstrom, the reigning state champion in the 1,600, will be one of his toughest opponents.

"It helps having someone pushing me all the time," Watson said.

Preston, which returns its top five runners, is favored to repeat as team champion.

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