MANKATO, Minn. - The Bethany Lutheran cross country teams will kick off action tomorrow night when they travel to Waseca, Minn. for the inaugural Coach Finanger Invitational. 



Head Coach Michael Dunn, now entering year 10 at the lead of the cross country program, has liked the progress that's been made by his young squads so far on the year. 

"This year there is a lot of excitement going on with a lot of first year kids," said Dunn. "It's been fun and a group that I'm excited to see grow throughout the year. We're really liking the blend and gel of this team so far through the first few weeks."

Bethany will open their season tomorrow in Waseca with a 5k race, which is shorter than the usual 6k for women and 8k for men, but something the Vikings do each year to help acclimate the youth of the team.

"We always try to start the season with a shorter meet to help get everyone's feet wet and get the feel of things. This meet we're competing in tomorrow is at a new course that no college meet has ever been run at so it'll be new terrain and layout to all the teams competing."

Returning on the men's side this season will be senior Josiah Hoppe and sophomore James Younge who finished first and second amongst the Vikings at conference last year, but the rest of the men's squad will bring fresh faces into the mix.

"We do have one senior in Josiah that I'm excited to see culminate his career this year, but we have a pretty new men's group. I'm looking forward to both James and Josiah to help show the ropes to our younger runners and help them grow throughout this year and their career here.

On the women's side, Kayla Tobin returns following three straight All-Conference nods. Bethany will also return both Naomi Anderson and Angela Zaccaria who finished top five on the team at conference last year.

"We have some really good experience coming back on the women's side to go along with a mix of youth. We're coming into the week pretty banged up so hoping these first few meets can be stepping stones to get our athletes healthy and ready for a late season push."