High school athletics departments commonly see ebbs and flows in the popularity of each sport from year to year, and now the Sumner cross country team’s ticket is up. The Spartan runners have the largest roster the program has seen, with more students joining each day and few losses to attrition; the girls team lost only one athlete to graduation.

“This season I expect us to be as successful as we have been as a team over the last couple years,” Coach Kristin Chapman said. “We have a pretty strong boys team this year, with a big group that will be fighting all season for varsity spots. Like I said (regarding the girls team), we only lost one varsity girl, and we have a couple young, new runners who look strong enough to fill a varsity spot.”

On the boys team, state runner Coltin Tanner is back for his senior year. Junior Arturo Perez, another major contributor cited by Chapman, returns for his junior year.

Juniors Zach Traufler and Fabian Hernandez, as well as sophomore Thomas Oliver, were noted as runners who may be up to snuff for the varsity team this season.

The girls team, which qualified in full for states last season, will see the return of seniors Natasha Wilson, Robi Long, Allie Sims and Katie Wire; and juniors Amanda Riley, Abi Hensler, and Rachel Nichols.

“Our big team goal this season is to get both full teams qualified for state,” Chapman said. “Looking at the new, and returning talent we have, there’s a pretty good chance that will happen.”

Chapman’s assistant coaching staff this season includes Eric Peterson and Don Pruett.

The cross country team’s first league meet is Sept. 20 in Celebration Park, against Fife and Washington high schools.