19 minutes, 57.6 seconds. "To stay ready to compete, we have to train for 11 1/2 months out of the year," said Ricks, who was the Wolves' top runner during the intersquad meet. "We've been training on a variety of different surfaces to try and make sure we're ready for any conditions that we might have to run in." Fremont's dominance at the state level has helped the program rise in national recognition as well. In The Harrier magazine's preseason Nike-Foot Locker Super 25 national high school team rankings, the Silver Wolves check in at No. 21. It's the third consecutive year that Fremont has made it into the top 25, and the Wolves are also ranked No. 4 in the southwest region. "I think one of the best things about running on this team is that everyone gets along," said Meyer, who was Fremont's top runner through most of last season. "We have great leadership from our captains, they push us to keep getting better. We're competitive with each other, but not in a negative way. We want to see each other do the best that we can." The Silver Wolves kicked off their regular season by winning the American Fork Invitational on Saturday, defeating second place Provo by over a minute in the aggregate time format of the invitational. "The most important thing for me with this team is to keep them relaxed," said Fremont coach Amber Tingey, who takes over the reins of the program this season from longtime coach Art Hansen. "I want them to be competitive and do the best that they can. They like to laugh a lot and that helps them so they don't get nervous before races. When they run relaxed, they perform better. "One of the things that I like about this team is that any one of them could step up and win a race," Tingey said. "We're deeper than we've been and they really push themselves hard." This season Fremont has 34 girls in its cross country program, many of them underclassmen. Fremont Cassie Ricks warms up with teammates last week. MATTHEW HATFIELD Standard-Examiner Also on the course ... "I'm really looking forward to seeing our girls run," Weber coach Alan Rawlins said. "Our girls are young, but they'll be a strong, close-knit group." Keep an eye on the Warriors' Savanna Burton and Christy Binks. Davis High's girls squad finished second in Region 1 and the state 5-A meet last, but the Darts graduated a wealth of experience and talent, making this years team a little bit of a mystery. "We lost an awful lot of good seniors last year," said Davis coach Roger Buhrley. "Fremont is (No. 21 in the country) and they're not overrated. They should be the team to beat in 5-A this year." Keep an eye on the Darts' Shaylee Marler, who finished seventh in the state meet last year, to be Davis' top runner this year. Sophomore Jami Dixon, senior Becca Sheppard, junior Aubrey Petersen and senior Morgan Haws should also be top runners for Davis. Box Elder is the defending Region 4 champion and should field a competitive girls team this season, let by sophomore Celeste Wouden, who was 28th in the 4-A meet last year. Ogden's girls have won six of the past seven Region 11 championships, but will likely face a stern test from cross-town rival Ben Lomond. Look for Ogden's McKenzie Cook, whose two older brothers Riley and Denver run for Weber State's crosscountry team, to be a top runner for the Tigers. Angeline Sargent and Sarah George should be key for Ben Lomond. Fremont's boys team is also expected to be competitive this year, behind the strength of Jon Heslop and Justin Dickamore The kingpin of Top of Utah teams this season though will likely be Davis once again. The Darts won back-to-back state 5-A titles in 2001-02 before being dethroned by Bingham last season, but return a tough core of seniors this season that could help them regain the top spot. "We have four runners that were on our varsity team last year coming back and we're a little deeper than we were last year," said Buhrley. Runners to watch Girls Katie Chugg, junior, Fremont McKenzie Cook, senior, Ogden Sarah George, junior, Ben Lomond Camille Hellstrom, junior, Weber Shaylee Marler, senior, Davis Lex Meyer, junior, Fremont Cassie Ricks, junior, Fremont Angeline Sargent, senior, Ben Lomond Lindsay Slater, junior, Fremont Celeste Wouden, sophomore, Box Elder Boys Josh Adams, senior, Davis Cole Cloward, senior, Davis Justin Dickamore, junior, Fremont Seth Frischknecht, junior, Davis Jason Gubler, junior, Weber Patrick Hall, junior, Davis Brett Hales, senior, Ogden Jon Heslop, senior, Fremont Taylor Monson, senior, Weber Josh Wicker, senior, Davis Weber's Jason Gubler should also be among the top runners in Region 1 this year. Ogden's boys team has won seven straight Region 11 titles and should field a competitive team once again this year. The Tigers' Brett Hales finished second in the state 3-A meet last year and should again be one of the state's top runners.