The Mission High School cross country team may have only eight members between their boys and girls team but boasts of strong individual performers as they prepare to head into their season-opening meet The Coaches Invitational Thursday in Missoula.

The Bulldogs, Lady Bulldogs’ head coach Chris Eichert says her team has several impact returners that finished strong from the 2016 fall season.

The Mission girls will return Karolyna Buck, a sophomore participant who will also play on the volleyball squad, junior Yvonne Baty and sophomore Amy Dillard.

“All three girls are returning from last year and I’m expecting faster times from all three ladies,” Eichert said. “They’ve been very hard workers all summer and have been running all summer. I really can’t wait to see what this season will bring.”

The Mission boys have five runners on their current roster, which gives the Bulldogs enough to field a team as they prep to head into the 2017 season.

The Mission runners will split their time between two sports: cross country and football. This year will be the first year the Bulldogs’ football team will transition from Class B, 11-man football to Class C, 8-man football. The current Bulldogs squad that will split time between the gridiron and greens include Wacey McClure, Aidyn Rosenbaum and Troy Matt.

The other two Mission runners will be 9th grader Isaiah Nasewytewa and Connor Burke. Eichert said she anticipates more participants.

“As a team, we are young and small,” Eichert said. “The effort each of these kids brings every day to practice is amazing.”

Eichert said her expectations are high for her three returners that she has this season.

“Troy and Wacey are the only returning athletes and they bring experience and leadership to our team,” Eichert said. “Troy also has made a great chance of making all-conference this season as he almost made it last year. Isaiah, Connor and Aidyn are extremely hard working and I’m excited to see what will happen with them this season.”

After the Coaches Invitational, the Bulldogs will host a meet Sept 1. at Ronan High School.