Interest and expectations are high for the Mason High School girls cross country team.

Coach Chip Dobson said the size of the roster has increased 40 percent over 2013. The Comets have 126 runners in the program.

Our district is getting very large, Dobson said. We have a big freshman class, but some of it is the success we have had and that culture has developed.

Indeed, the Comets have won back-to-back state championships. They return six of the seven runners to competed in last years state meet.

Still, Dobson said the Comets have multiple time trials during the season to find the best lineup (top seven).

We feel like we have a pretty good handle on it in that we are always assessing our top seven, Dobson said. It changes week-to-week. Thats how we roll each season.

Through the first few invitationals, the Comets have already had 15 different runners turn in varsity times. Meagan Murphy, Leah Ford, Ellie Brush, Alberta Negri, Ailee Henderson, Nia Myre, Delaney McDowell, Lauren Rose, Bethany Angstadt, Amy Satterhwaite, Erin Brush, Elizabeth Atkins, Madeline Seiller, Annie McBeth and Taylor Wood have all posted times among the Greater Miami Conference leaders.

Dobson said winning a Greater Miami Conference title the Comets have won four straight is goal No. 1. Winning a third state state title is another.

We know the field is going to be challenging, Dobson said. Last year, three of the top four teams at state were from our regional and one team that didnt get out would have been as good as eight or nine of the teams there. It is a very competitive atmosphere and it wakes me up early thinking about it.

Lebanon: Sue Ellis believes it will take some time for the Warriors to put everything together.

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Comets eye third straight state crown