From the runners to the coach, there will be many new faces on the Aberdeen Christian cross country team this fall.

The Knights will feature several new runners, as well as a new head coach in Adam Franken, who previously coached cross country in Groton for the past 17 years. Franken is now looking to rely on his prior coaching experience to help lead the Knights to big improvements this season.

“For the first year here at Aberdeen Christian the expectation is to get the runners out and to work hard and to keep improving each day and every meet of the year,” Franken said. “Just knowing the ins and outs of the cross country season, cross country kids are a lot the same. They’re great kids who work hard and want to succeed. So, there’s a lot of that that carries over no matter where you’re at.”

The Knights will only have five runners on the roster this season, with most not having much, if any, varsity experience. The only varsity returner is sophomore Lucy Jones, while seventh-grader Clara Herreid ran at the junior high level last season. Franken likes what he sees from both runners.

“They’re doing well in practice,” Franken said. “Lucy has been in it the longest – great attitude and leadership. (I’m) excited to see what she can do this year, and also just helping to bring those other runners along and provide that leadership.”

Christian has also added three first-year runners to the team this season, including a pair of boys in eighth-grader Joseph Richards and junior Elijah Alvear, as well as sophomore Kate Alvear. Franken is excited about the potential the trio of runners will bring to the team.

“(Joseph) is still pretty young, but I think he’s got a lot of potential. I’d like to see how he does towards the end of the year,” Franken said. “It’s (Elijah’s) first year out as well, but fairly athletic and could do well, and one other girl, Kate Alvear, Elijah’s sister, she’s got a lot of speed.”

When it comes to the team’s schedule this season, Franken says he does not have his eye on any particular meet, but wants his team to prepare for the conference, region, and state meets.

“We want to keep improving so that when it gets down to conference and getting to that region meet being in the top peak performance, so we have the best chance at qualifying for state is kind of what we’re looking towards,” Franken said.

Since entering fall practice, Franken said the team has worked hard getting prepared for the season, which starts Saturday at Mobridge for the Knights.

“They’ve been looking good just working on getting our endurance down at the beginning of the year and now getting our speed down,” Franken said. “They’re very coachable kids, willing to do whatever is asked of them in practice.”

Aside from winning a state championship, Franken says the main goal for the team is to improve every single day throughout the season.

“Our goals are just to constantly improve each practice and each meet,” Franken said. “Each runner has their specific goals in mind, where they want to be and exceed them; trying to see where they’re at and really building that confidence up.”