The Lakeville South girls' track program has an expectation of excellence. It doesn't fluctuate depending on who is returning on a yearly basis.
"While we may have graduated some very talented seniors last year, the expectations of excellence amongst our coaches and current athletes did not graduate," Cougars coach Andrew Hilliard said.
The Cougars won the Class 3A True Team state meet a year ago. They finished third in the Class 2A individual state meet three weeks later.
"One of the biggest goals our program sets every year is to qualify for the True Team state meet," Hilliard said. "We know it'll be a tough goal to achieve, but we're looking forward to the challenge."
Lakeville South's success stems from one word — improvement. That pertains to each member on the roster.
"Regardless of ability, our program has always focused on improvement," Hilliard said. "Over the past several years, those improvements added up to state championships and, more importantly, an expectation of excellence in our program."
The Cougars will be led by a state-caliber distance crew. Senior captains Annie Brekken, Emily Everson and Kaytlyn Larson helped the cross-country team to a ninth-place finish in the Class 2A state meet this past fall.
"Coach Jessica Just's cross-country program has provided us with another group that should be a strength of the team," Hilliard said. "While we certainly will have a new look, having graduated 11 seniors who scored at the True Team state meet for us, we're optimistic that returners and new faces in our program will step up to continue our run as one of the top teams in the state."
