Coach: Layne Hutchins

Last year: Finished sixth at the NWC Championships. Finished sixth at the 2A Northwest District meet. Finished tied for 20th at the 2A State Championships.

Returning state participants: Maddi Hommes (sr. 4x200, 4x400), Kendra Hack (sr. 100 hurdles, 300 hurdles, 4x200, 4x400), Alexa Smiley (so. 4x200), Shelby Jacob (jr. javelin)

Others to watch: Ivie Erickson (jr. pole vaulter), Andrea Rios (jr. sprints), Lyndsey Cerny (jr. throws), Samantha Bedlington (so. throws), Alexa Shindruk (so. distance), Kat Webb (so. sprints, jumps)

Outlook: Like the Lynden boys' team, the girls' squad is relatively young this year. But the Lions are fortunate to have a leader like Erickson. "She works hard, and she is awesome," Hutchins said in a phone interview. "She may not be the best pole vaulter out there, but if there was a way to get a kid to state based on how great she is, she would be the one. She's is just a great leader for us." Hutchins also is encouraged by returning three legs of the Lions' state qualifying 4x200 relay from last year in Hommes, Hack and Smiley. Hommes has focused more on throwing this year after nearly making state in the discus. Newcomers Rios and Cerny should give the Lions a couple other potential new faces in the mix to go to state. "I think we have strength in many areas at the top, but we will wait on the depth," Hutchins said. "We've got Kendra Hack in the hurdles, and she's already done awesome and is ready to take it to the next level. We've got Shelby in the throws. Alexa, I think can be a surprise in this league in the distance races. We're hoping to back all that up with some depth."

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