EPHRATA - Moses Lake track athletes' quest to return to the state championship meet begins this Saturday at the Ray Cross Invitational in Ephrata.

Last year, the Chiefs were able to capture the first Big Nine Girls District Championship in the program's history.

Moses Lake will have to find a way to replace the production of the now graduated Sadie Nielsen. Neilsen, who was the No. 1 ranked thrower in the discus last season, also won a state championship.

The Moses Lake girls also captured its first Columbia Basin Big Nine league titled and capped their season with an eighth place finish at the state championship meet in Tacoma.

At last year's Ray Cross Invitational, Moses Lake girls track was the runner-up at the competition.

Moses Lake boys track will look to improve on an otherwise up and down season.

The Chief boys finished fourth at districts last season and sent one representative, Cameron Ballard, to the state championship meet. Ballard finished 14th in the triple jump.

The Invite begins 11 a.m. Saturday at Ephrata High School.

Ephrata, Othello and Quincy will also be competing.