When Flathead’s Zach Perrin and Glacier’s Troy Fraley crossed the finish line at the state cross country meet in Missoula a year ago in second and fifth  place, respectively, the two standouts had the luxury of saying there is always next year.

Well, next year is finally here.

And this will be the final shot the two seniors have at winning their first individual AA state championship.

The state meet gets under way today at 11 a.m. in Helena with the Class A girls toeing the starting line at Bill Roberts Golf Course.

The AA boys race is the finale at 2:50 p.m.

“I’m hoping for the fastest (state times) ever,”  Glacier coach Mike McLean said.

“(Troy) he’s more than capable (of winning it).”

In the mix again this year is Missoula Hellgate’s Adam Peterman.

Those three have battled for top honors all fall at meets all around the state.

“They will fight it out for the top spot,” Flathead coach Paul Jorgensen said.

“They all know what’s coming,” McLean said of the trio.

“We’ll just find out who is better prepared and ready. I think I know who it’s going to be.”

Fraley finished sixth at state his freshman season and was 21st as a sophomore.

“He’s matured, he’s strong, he listens,” McLean said of Fraley.

“He had a fantastic summer of training.”

Perrin finished seventh at state as a sophomore and 21st as a freshman.

Peterman placed third at state in 2011.

Perrin, Peterman and Fraley were separated by just 15 seconds last year at state.

Glacier is still looking for its first individual state cross country champion.

Flathead’s last state champs were Zoe Nelson (2004) and Matt Parker (2003).

Team-wise, McLean hopes to finish the season on a high note.

“The boys team will do very, very well,” he said.

“We should have seven personal bests. That’s hard to do, but that’s the day to do it.

“The girls are improving all the time,” he said of his young, inexperienced squad.

“They are still learning how to race.”

The Flathead boys have five runners back from last year’s state team.

“Our goal is to finish in the top three,” Jorgensen said.

 The Flathead girls have three runners back from last year’s state crew. Mackenzie Bouma and Natalie Jeude ran the top flights for the Bravettes at the 7 on 7 meet.

“The girls have not run a race yet where we have had all seven of our top runners healthy,” Jorgensen said.

“As a result, our girls have not shown their potential. Maybe at the state meet all the girls will run their best.”

Another individual standout looking to strengthen her running resume in the Class B ranks is Bigfork’s Makena Morley. She will run today at 11:35 a.m.

“I think she’s even more driven this year than last year, if that’s possible,” Bigfork coach Sue Loeffler said.

“I feel she’s in better shape.”

The defending state champion has cracked the 17-minute barrier twice — 16:56 at Mission Mountain Golf Course and 16:50 at the 7 on 7 meet in Helena.

“She wants to try to be under 17 again,” Loeffler said.

“We’ve really intensified her practices more so this year. Last year we were getting a feel for what should could handle. That’s made her a better runner.”

Morley’s margin of victory at state last year was one minute.

Loeffler is also excited about fielding full squads — boys and girls — for state. The last time the girls did that was 2004.

The boys squad consists of five freshmen and two sophomores.

Loeffler said Chelsea Olson, a senior, has been running well, along with Logan Morley, a freshman, and Carson Cantrell, a sophomore.

Columbia Falls and Whitefish also hope to make some noise today in Class A.

The Columbia Falls boys are led by Zayne Brunz, a junior, Seth McCall, a senior, and Shonn Roberts, a sophomore.

“The last two weeks they have made some nice improvement, had PRs at the divisional meet,” Columbia Falls coach Richard Menicke said.

“I think all of these guys has one more (PR) in them.”

The Columbia Falls girls had a strong divisional showing, placing second to Polson. The Wildkats are led by sophomores Samantha Mundel, Meredith Stolte and Carlee Brown and senior Tori Price.

“They have really been running in a tight group,” Menicke said.

“That’s been a big part of our success. We’ll need to do that again to have a successful state.”

The Columbia Falls girls placed fourth last year.

Whitefish will field a talented boys team, led by seniors Fischer Gangemi, ninth at state last year, and Jace Kalbfleisch, 19th.

The WHS boys were 10th as a team last year.

“The boys should do really well,” Whitefish coach Sara Brist said.

“They are probably underdogs and nobody is really talking about them. We’re trying to keep it low key.”

Brist said the boys individual race is up for grabs with as many as 10 runners having a legitimate shot at winning it.

Regarding the WHS girls ...

“Last year we placed seventh,” Brist said as a team.

“If they run their run, hopefully place higher.”

Sophomores Peyton Twete and Sarah Latcham and freshman Barrett Gray have been the top three.

“They pack well together,” Brist said.

“That will help us at state.”

Glacier State Lineup

Girls

Miranda Champion, so.; Jessica Chery, so.; Leah Cook, sr.; Keckeley Habel, sr.; Corinne Hamilton, fr.; Katie McHugh, jr.; Miranda Meyer, sr., alternate; Katie Whyte, jr.

Boys

Ruben Castren, so.; Nathan Connell, jr.; Troy Fraley, sr.; Logan Harmon, fr.; Noah Hill, so.; Ian Hollander, sr., alternate; Kade McCutcheon, so.; Tanner Olsen, jr.

Flathead State Lineup

Girls

Johanna Lembke, so.; Heather Bodenhamer, so.; Mackenzie Bouma, so.; Adrionah Wilcox, so.; Natalie Jeude, jr.; Meghan Clostio, jr.; Madison Seaman, so.; Kylee Gibson, sr., alternate.

Boys

Matt Macfarlane, sr.; Ben Moon, sr.; Zach Perrin, sr.; Billy Allen; Sylas Schutt, so.; Jordan Engle, so.; Garrett Ruud, alternate; Jacob Calles, alternate.