They're great leaders. They've been on the healthy and dependable list for four years, that's very difficult to do. They're excellent role models and leaders.

We knew it would be a good battle. It was excellent running but they packed up on us.

With quality collegiate runners like that gone, at some point that's going to catch up with you. I think our team could look a lot different in October than it looks in August.

You have to be incredibly impressed by some of the younger girls. They're really becoming very competitive for us and we have excellent leadership from the older girls and hopefully that blend will make us a better team.

For the second meet in a row, we did a great job of running aggressively as a pack and keeping it tight. We seem to be getting stronger every meet.

But having said all that doesn't mean we're going to give it away. We're going to compete utmost at conference and section time. ... I'm in no way pessimistic about the season and after a week of practice I'm feeling better. People are going to know we're there.