To say that this year’s Jackson cross country team has a lot to live up to is a bit of an understatement.

But it’s also a bit of an understatement to say this year’s team has limited potential.

“Last year was the best team we’ve had in school history, possibly the best team Jackson has had in sports in school history,” boys coach Eric Hruschka said.

The boys team finished fifth at the Class 4A state championships, while the girls team missed a state berth by two spots, finishing fourth at districts.

“My expectation is that it’s a reloading year, not a rebuilding year,” Hruschka said.

Returning for the Timberwolves is junior Jeff Helmer, who finished sixth in state last year as a sophomore. This year, Helmer is ranked third in the state, seventh in the region and has a good shot at qualifying for nationals.

“I’d just like to challenge for the state title individually. Teamwise, I’d like our team to win districts,” Helmer said. “I just hope I can be 100 percent healthy at the end of the season and put in a good effort for the team.”

This year’s boys team will need to overcome the loss of graduate Caleb Knox, who split victories in five of the 10 league races with Helmer. Knox is now running for the University of Washington.###

“(Knox) was a great training partner and leader for Jeff,” Hruschka said. “I think he taught Jeff enough the past two years as a freshman and sophomore to teach him how to be a very good runner, so now he’s got to do it on his own.”

Helmer spent the summer adjusting to the leadership position Knox once occupied. In doing so, he hopes to get the younger runners on this year’s team prepared to compete and win.

“The guys have definitely stepped up and helped out with the responsibilities of trying to fill in the gaps from the seniors we lost last year,” Helmer said.

“(Our) kids bought in to program. There was a lot of offseason training,” Hruschka said. “We get kids to do track in the spring, and get kids to work hard in the summer to prep for fall.”

Among those who’ve helped strengthen the program include Tom Callahan and Pat Croteau, according to Hruschka.

Also returning this year is a mightier girls team, which with the addition of transfer Kari Sandoval and two-time state qualifier and one-time district champion Allison Graham, hopes to make it to the state championships in Pasco.

“With the addition of Kari and a lot of enthusiastic freshmen, I think that we’re going to have a pretty strong team, and possibly have a chance of going to state this year,” Graham said. “It’s hard to tell because were not sure if a lot of girls are going to commit just yet, but if they did, we could have a really good team.”

Sandoval, who transferred from Archbishop Murphy High School, finished in the top 20 in the state last season in the 1A meet.

“I only have a 5:30 mile time, but I’m better at cross country,” she said.

With last year’s team going undefeated in Western Conference 4A South Division last year, new coach Craig Bowen is trying to live up to expectations.

“On paper we look real good, but we had some girls who maybe didn’t want to work as hard this summer, so we’re still trying to get to know the girls and their abilities,” Bowen said. “(We’re) trying to work on the commitment level.”

Bowen, however, has confidence in the program he was brought into.

“Eric Hruschka’s done a great job of building up a state level program if not a national level program,” he said.

The Timberwolves will run their third meet of the season tomorrow (Saturday, Sept. 18) at the South Whidbey Invitational.

Helmer is hoping his team’s results will speak for itself.

“Some other teams have been saying some stuff about our team and we’re just going to talk with our legs,” he said.