The defending Class B girls cross country champions Kadoka Kougars are returning all five runners from last year's squad and say their hungry to repeat again this year.

The Kougars won the region 5B meet in Phillip with a score of eight with their top three girls finishing first, second and fifth. Lemmon finished second with a score of 18 and McIntosh rounded out the top three with 31. Abby Niehoff's first place finish led the way for Kadoka with a time of 14:50, which was the top time of all five regionals.

"We had a good regional meet," said Kadoka head coach Harry Weller, "I knew Lemmon would give us a test, but our top three girls ran extremely well and edged their top three girls."

The Kadoka head coach points to a camp at Black Hills State University for a major reason for the Kougars success this season.

"We went to Scott Walkinshaw's cross country camp and that is one of the reasons we're doing so well. We learned a lot up there, him and his cross country team really taught the kids a lot." Weller said.

But if the Kougars are to hang up another state championship banner it is going to take a strong performance from the whole team, says Weller.

"All of our girls have to run well," said Weller. "We've got a chance and that is all I'm asking for. But we're going to have fun. We're hoping for the best. We have all of our runners back and they're a year older and they're fun to watch run."

Weller said their top competition at the state meet will be Scotland, Estelline, Herrid and Elkton. All four teams won their respective regions.

In the individual category, Eureka-Bowdle's Hilary Krein returns as the defending state champion.

"I think the meet is open both team and individually. I had no idea that we would win last year until the final turn," Weller said. "I think it will be the same this year. There is no reason to compare the region results because the courses are so different. That's why we have the state meet."

On the boys side, the defending state champion is Wessington Springs and it is strong again this year. The Spartans had three runners finish in the top four at the region meet. McIntosh, Eureka-Bowdle, Centerville and Estelline won the other four regions and should compete for the team championship.

Three-time defending state champion, Kiko Mendoza, moved from a Class B school to a Class 'A' school leaving the door wide open for the boys individual championship.

The Class B girls will run at noon, MDT, and the boys race will begin at 1 p.m. in Huron.