The North Decatur Chargers two cross country teams seem to be going in different directions this season.

The boys’ squad has a solid seven performers, while the girls will probably not be able to compete as a team.

During any cross country meet, the first seven runners figure in the scoring, with only the top five scores counting. If you have less than six runners, you cannot register a team score. At some larger meets such as sectional, the best four times for a team determine team placement, and the top three teams normally advance at sectional.

That means the boys will have the ability to fill in for an injury or illness without effecting the team score. The girls, on the other hand, will be running for personal times and the right to represent the Chargers at the end of the season. Even if the team score does not count, the best finishes from non-advancing teams can run at he subsequent level.

Since the girls are represented by Victoria Leffel, Kelsey Kramer and Charlee Miller-Combs, all members of the Chargers’ successful 2008 track squad, there is potential that the Chargers can place one or more of the trio in the regional qualifier for girls’ cross country.

The Charger boys are also veterans of the Track team with two runners placing in tournament runs and showing well at the sectional qualifier. Both Andy Seiter and Derek Moore ran well in the distance events and appear to be solid leaders of the cross country squad. Shane Smith, Ethan Rich and Jarrod Nobbe also ran for the tack squad. Those five are joined by David and Anthony Bedel.

Coach Ed Parker acknowledged that the squad should do well.

“It’ll be nice to not have to look back in the pack for the first runner to follow them,” he said.

The harriers have already begun their training, concentrating on balance and core strength as well as running. Seiter, Moore and Leffel in particular had strong distance performance in the spring and seem ready to pick up where they left off in June.