Dexter coach Jill Becker has Dexter's second-year cross county program moving in the right direction and looks for the Bearcats to be much improved this year heading into the season's first action Saturday at the Jackson Invitational.

"I think we'll be better this year, so I'm pretty excited about it (the season)," said Becker, who also serves at the Bearcats track coach. "We have a lot kids that work hard and want to win."

Dexter returns six runners on the girls team and all four from the boys squad.

"Our numbers are up from last year and we'll actually have a boys team this year," Becker said. "It takes five to make up a team and we have seven guys out and 11 girls. Hopefully we can improve on last year."

Returning for the girls are senior Ashley Baugus, juniors Sammy Waldner and Abby Reiker, and sophomores Jill Temples, Ashley Taylor and Ashlee Boone.

Newcomers to the team are sophomores Nuranda Tucker and Jessica Blankenship and freshmen Brittney Waldner, Hannah Baker and Caitlyn Phillips.

For the boys, senior Matt Overall, a state qualilfier last season, returns to lead a full team. Joining Overall as returning runners are senior Adam Flanigan, junior Kevin Anderson and sophomore Garrett McKuin. New to the boys team this season are senior James Fowler, junior Jason Kohlbaker and freshman Michael Lawrence.

"On the girls side we have a lot of talent back," Becker noted. "Ashley (Baugus), Jill (Temples) and Sammy Waldner are looking great. Abby Reiker is back and running great also.

"We have some good freshman out and one of those was Brittney Waldner," Becker added. "She was running in the top three, but had to have her appendix taken out, so she'll be out for a while but should be back for some of the season.

"Matt (Overall) is back for his senior season, and a couple of juniors, Jason (Kohlbaker) and Kevin (Anderson), along with Garrett McKuin who's back as a sophomore, are all looking great," Becker said. "All of the boys, Adam Flanigan, James Fowler and freshman Michael Lawrence are all working hard.

"Everyone is working hard and they are just a great bunch of kids to work with."

The season starts Saturday at the Jackson Invitational, followed by the Perryville Invitational (Sept. 9), at Cape Central (Sept. 16), at the Notre Dame Invitational in Cape Girardeau (Sept. 30), as the Potosi Invitational (Oct. 7), at North County (Oct. 14) and at Advance (Oct.16). All but the meet with Advance are contested on Saturday's.

District competition is scheduled for Oct. 28 at a site still to be announced, followed by state competition Nov. 4.