Mother-daughter duo leading Comet cross country

A little intra-squad competition can go a long way.

Just ask Cardinal cross country coach Michelle Albert, who has never so much as seen a full harrier squad at Cardinal.

But all that should change this year. With eight girls currently out for the team, Albert has the largest group of girls she?s ever coached and for the first time will see competition for the seven varsity spots.

?This is a big group for us ... eight girls is the most I've had,? said the sixth-year head coach. ?Now I have competition about who runs varsity, and I've never had that before.?

One girl who has her spot on lock is three-year lettermen Lindsay Albert. The senior returns as the undisputed leader and should challenge for an individual state berth after missing out by a matter of seconds last season.

?She has potential. Last year she got 18th at districts, so her goal is to make it to state and work hard, and she has a good work ethic,? Albert said of her daughter. ?With more girls it just helps her this year and pushes her a bit more.?

Newcomers Lexi Engel and Lindsey Davis figure to file in behind Albert, while returning junior Emily Miller is expected to score for the Comets, as well. Megan Miller, Elizabeth Denniston, Samia Harrington and Allison Metcalf will be duking it out for the three final varsity spots.

?They're going to be running with each other and pushing each other,? said Albert. ?I see improvements with all of them, and we have room to grow because it's a young team.?

While depth is a welcome sight for Albert on the girls' end, low numbers continue to plague the boys' team. Only three boys ? all sophomores ? have attended preseason practices, with newcomer and varsity wrestler Levi Rupe coming out the fastest in preseason practices. Rupe, along with returning runner Connor Munkirs and newcomer Dominik Swairj, will mainly be focused on individual improvement.

The Comets open up the season Tuesday in Kalona with a meet hosted by IMS. They then go to Wildwood Park in Ottumwa Aug. 30.