Missing its top returning finisher from last year's state 5A meet due to injury, some teams just rebuild.

The two-time defending state 5A champion Coeur d'Alene High girls cross country team - the Vikings just reload.

Back from the previous two championship runs are seniors Josie Brown, Kara Story and Krista Story, as well as sophomore Caitlin Conway.

Junior Emily Callahan, who finished third at last year's state meet, was unable to compete for the team this year, sitting out with a reoccurrence of a stress fracture suffered in last year's state meet.

"It really says a lot about our depth," said Krista Story, who was 10th as a sophomore and fifth as a junior. "Not having her definitely affected us, but we've rose to the occasion, and I think, in the end, it makes us stronger runners because we've know all year we've had to step up for our teammates."

"I think it proves how strong we really are as a group," said Kara Story, who was eighth as a freshman, and sixth the last two years. "To be able to recover from that, and still be on top of our game, it gave us more incentive because we knew that we had to do even more to succeed the way we did last year."

Conway added that Callahan's absence has brought the group closer together.

"It just made us work harder knowing that we have to go to the next level of running," said Conway, who finished eighth last year as a freshman, "because we can't rely on her as much as we might have last year."

Stepping into Callahan's shoes, if you will, are senior Kaitlyn Gunnerson and sophomore Merceydes Smith. Both will make their first state cross country appearance.

"Each of us bring something different to this team," said Brown, who was second as a sophomore and third as a freshman. "Each of us have their own work ethic and personality and we're all on the same page. We've all got one common goal - and that's to win state. That's what's cool about this team."

Gunnerson won the 100-meter hurdles in last year's state track meet. Gunnerson had ran cross country off and on in previous years, and this year she fully dedicated herself to the sport.

"I love the sport really," Gunnerson said. "I didn't want to miss out on spending time with the girls. That's one of the biggest reasons I came back."

Smith earned her way onto varsity during this year's Bob Firman Invitational at Eagle Island State Park, where Saturday's championship race will be held.

"It's been really, really fun," Smith said. "I like that course a lot. The girls really push me to get better, both in the races and in practices. It's really been a fun year."

The top five - Brown, the Storys, Conway and Gunnerson - have ran together since middle school.

"It's been amazing," Brown said. "I've grown up with all these girls. It's sad that it's my last year, and we're the closest of friends on this team. Just the sisterhood, we're always there for each other. If one person falls, the others are there to pick them up. We all work really well together."

"It's been really fun running together for as long as we have," Krista Story said. "College is going to be really different because we're not going to be running with the same group we have been our entire career. It's exciting, but also sad to leave."

"I think we've all become super close friends," Kara Story said. "We all hang out at school and just know everything about each other. To be able to start running together in sixth grade through our senior year has been a true blessing for all of us."

"We all look out for each other and we're a really big family," Conway said. "We all spend time together on the weekends, either hanging out or going to movie nights and doing a bunch of team bonding. If we don't have that, we're probably not where we're at right now."

First things first, attacking the course at Eagle Island - not only this weekend but also in two weeks for the Nike Northwest race.

"It helps us a lot," Brown said. "We've ran Eagle Island many times, and it's almost like a home course for us. It's comfortable, and we know all the ins and outs of the course."

"I like it because it's got a variety of things," Krista Story said. "I feel like our team in general is really strong at hills, even though there's not many hills on that course. We can run in a pack and all run together. We've ran it so many times, we know the whole thing and know it a little better than most."

"It's probably my favorite course," Kara Story said. "This will be my eighth time running this course and I like the hill and sand in it, because I think it's the most challenging part because they're right after each other and I like the fact it's a two-lap course, so you know what's coming next. It just gives you time to think, and it's just a really good course."

"It really helps me see where I was at the beginning of the season," Conway said. "Now, we can think about the strength of the course and we can be better and where we went wrong before."

"Now, you've got a gameplan," Gunnerson said. "You know the course and where all the turns are and where you need to put the surges in. Just being familiar with the course is going to help us a lot."

Each runner is genuinely excited for the other, no matter who finishes where.

"We're all so close and there's never any drama," Krista Story said. "We all get along great and are just always there for each other. And I think that makes us really special."

"We know each other and cheer each other on," Gunnerson said. "Some teams don't have as strong of a bond. I think the fact that we all get along and love each other is what makes us special."

"What separates us from other teams is how hard we work," Brown said. "And I think to get another state championship would be a great reward for all the work we've put in."

Exactly what the four seniors want to send their high school careers out with.

"There's a drive to win state again and prove to the rest of the northwest that we're the best team in the northwest," Brown said. "Our goal is to come out, have a really good meet and win state again."

"It's our last year, and we need to go out with a bang," Krista Story said. "We really have the talent right now. Our motivation is to go our and get things done."