LAPEL — Lapel cross country coach Darrell Richardson finds himself coaching three different programs to guide the Bulldogs through their season.

With 13 boys and seven girls running this year, the programs are tailored to fit the needs of the whole team.

With nine boys and two girls returning to the course from last year, they are training with the intermediate programs, but a few runners — some of whom have never run, and a few who ran in middle school — are training for the rigors of cross country at the beginning level.

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The third training workout Richardson is overseeing is for senior Luke Combs.

Ranked at No. 5 in Indiana, Combs is considered one of the premier high school runners in the state and will lead the Bulldogs this season.

“He’s going to do a great job for us,” Richardson said. Last year, Combs won the Pendleton sectional and Delta regional, placed 10th in the New Haven semistate, and finished 27th in the state meet in Terre Haute.

Combs will have the opportunity to face heavy competition this season.

“He has a tremendous drive and really wants to be successful and be the best runner he can be,” Richardson said.

However, Combs isn’t the only focus. Richardson has a goal of seeing the whole team progress enough to elevate it to semistate and improve upon its 19th–place team finish from last year.

The Bulldogs have the legs to do so with the power of seniors Combs, Jesse McCurdy, Carson Huber, Tony Gonzalez, Killian O’Conner, Luke Rich, Collin Stewart and Blaine Teeters.

“We want our top seven to go to the semistate,” Richardson said.

McCurdy is also the No. 1 singles player for the Lapel tennis team and will not compete in all races on the schedule.

While experience will guide the boys, the girls are in a season of unknowns and new beginnings.

Of the seven runners, only two — sophomores Lucy Loller and Ellie Manning — have varsity experience. The Bulldogs lost four semistate qualifiers from last season.

“We are breaking in the new runners nice and easy to get their running styles,” Richardson said. “It’s a day by day thing.”

By the end of the season he hopes they have a real understanding of what cross country is about.

In his 30 years of coaching, Richardson understands keeping athletes interested is key. He is varying their practice schedules.

“Everyone is trying and working hard. That’s the way it goes in cross country.”

Several invitationals are on the schedule this season for the Bulldogs beginning with the Arabian Roundup at 6 p.m. Aug. 28 at Pendleton Heights.

Additionally, the Bulldogs will see action in the Hamilton Heights Invitational and the Marion Invitational as well as a few others.

One race on the calendar, the Nike Valley Twilight, is a real highlight for the team.

The race is the final one before the sectional and is run at night on the state meet course.

“The kids have fun and some of the best competition in the state will be in attendance,” Richardson said.

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Girls

Senior

Caitlyn Stewart

Sophomore

Lucy Loller

Ellie Manning

Zoe Moore

Freshmen

Lillian Adams

Kylie Crull

Elianna Scott

Boys

Seniors

Luke Combs

Tony Gonzalez

Carson Huber

Jesse McCurdy

Killian O’Conner

Luke Rich

Collin Stewart

Blaine Teeters

Junior

Tyler Woolridge

Sophomore

Tony Chelli

Tommy Manning

Keegan Riffey

Evan Zachary

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