MERIDIAN

TROJANS

Coach: Mike Holz

Last year: Did not post a team score at the NWC Championships. Placed sixth at the 1A tri-district meet. Finished 10th at the 1A State Championships.

Runners to watch: Mimi Meggison (fr.), Sydney Gray (sr.), McKenzie Roque (jr.), Jayna Edmonds (sr.), Arissa Alvarez (sr.), Tiana Pratt (so.), Kalina Vanderpol (jr.)

Outlook: Meridian's prospects for 2012 were already looking good with the return of four of its five scoring runners at state in Gray, Edmonds, Pratt and Vanderpol. But those prospects look even brighter with newcomer Meggison, who paced 10th at the USATF National Junior Olympic Cross Country Championships in the Youth Division last December. "She obviously comes in with some great credentials, and we're excited to have her," Holz said. "She adds some depth and dynamic to a squad we were expecting big things from." Once Gray is healthy and with the work ethic the team is already demonstrating, Holz believes the Trojans have a good shot to podium at state this year, especially with another newcomer, Roque, helping out.

Reach DAVID RASBACH at david.rasbach@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2271.