Photo by Sam Thiel The 2020 Yellow Medicine East cross country team includes front row (L to R): Evelyn Martin, Leena Petrich, Karina Jahn and Anjali Pullan. Middle row (L to R): Fabricio Guzman, Violet Anderson, Brylea Ruff-mulligan, Kylie Knollenberg, Sanjana Pullan, Hannah Stark and Ruby Bones. Back row (L to R): Tyler Syring, Ean Clarke, Caleb Jans, Luis Guzman, Derek Lien and Silas Ramirez. Not pictured: Izabella Anderson.

GRANITE FALLS — The Yellow Medicine East boys and girls cross country teams will look to rely on a mix of youth and experience heading into another season under coach Jim Ford.

Leading the way for YME on the boys side will be Caleb Jans while Tyler Syring, Luis Guzman and Silas Ramirez will contribute to their times. On the girls side, Brylea Ruff-mulligan and Kylie Knollenberg are among the key returners while Ruby Bones and Hannah Stark will look to add to their times. YME will also have three total seniors on its roster.

Ford said they are hoping to get in as many meets as they can and they have a lot of runners with a lot of potential.

“This is completely different from any other year that we’ve had, I’m just hoping to get in as many meets as we can,” Ford said. “We have a lot of young runners with a lot of potential and my only expertise is to try and get them to have a larger dream and do the running necessary year-round to be successful at cross country.”

YME began its season on Sept. 1 where it took second on the girls side and third on the boys side.

As the season progresses, Ford said he’s looking forward to watching the team grow and become stronger competitors.

“Just watching the kids progress and grow,” Ford said. “They’ve got a lot of potential and once they get a few miles under their belts, their times will get better and we’re expecting to have a really good season.”