MOULTRIE – It certainly adds an element of excitement when somebody is chasing a state championship dream. That has been the beginning, middle and end of Colquitt County High’s cross country story for four years.

But Mell Wier didn’t shut the school’s distance running program down with the graduation of Elizabeth Funderburk. She is the one who finally did achieve that dream by winning the GHSA 7A girls championship last November by a huge margin in Carrollton. Funderburk went on to sign with Florida State University and is on the roster. Along with that, Wier also lost his top boys cross country runner in 2018 graduate Jake Merritt.

On Thursday, Wier said he’s excited still about what Colquitt County will field this fall.

There isn’t a full 3.1-mile competition until Sept. 6 at Lee County. On Tuesday Wier will put the Packers through a two-mile ‘time trial’ at Packer Park starting at the new outdoor football field and track (yes, the new indoor facility has been used by the running Pack as well.)

While there may be no one with Merritt’s speed on the boys team, Wier said they have a lot of quality runners who will finish a race in a bunch, or group. He said that helps team scores, not having them all spread out through a course.

So the mystery each time out will be which Packer will cross the finish line first. Will it be senior Colin Daniels, or one of a pair of freshmen Wier is high on: swimmer Case Gregory and baseball player Hayes Lightsey? Wier said it will be a matter of getting these 9th graders used to the extra mile high schoolers run.

“We have 20 on the roster, which is about double from last year,” said Wier. “We’ve got the numbers for some real competitive practices.”

The girls team numbers are down (eight), but Wier said it’s a solid group battling each day to claim Funderburk’s top spot. Danielle Brown, senior, is the leading contender having been in the program since middle school, and two Wier said are improving every day are Victoria Barber and Lillian Fagan.

“The positions will vary with every race,” said Wier. “We’re looking for better team performances.”

About Funderburk, Wier said she is an example of what can happen if you work. They will miss her leadership, but Wier said the girls are stepping up to the challenge.

The Packers will run in Bainbridge, Albany and Tift County.

There is no region cross country championship meet again; the Area 1 meet leading into state is Oct. 20 in Conyers.

Wier said everything is geared towards the Pack peeking as 3.1-mile runners starting Sept. 29 at Tifton and carrying the pace to the GHSA meet – again in Carrollton – the first weekend of November.