The Lindbergh High School varsity girls’ cross country team has a great chance at qualifying for state this year as a team.

The Flyers have the key ingredients to a strong season and an abundance of returning quality runners to aid them in their quest.

Lindbergh head coach Tom Gose told the Call he has high hopes for 2013.

“We lost only one senior from 2012 and we have some young talent on board,” he said. “Last year, we were district champs and we’d like to repeat that this year and go further in state.”

After the district championship, the Flyers only had one runner make it through to state, but this year they have a much better chance of getting more through because of a higher skill set and veteran leadership on the team.

“Typically a team loaded with seniors that have been varsity runners for multiple years will have the drive, confidence and intangibles to do what it has to do,” the Lindbergh coach said.

In cross country, a team is scored based on the finishing places of their top five runners — for example, first place equals 1 point, second place equals 2 points — so the team with the lowest point total has the highest finishers.

Having runners that close together is a big advantage because it lowers the average significantly.

And to qualify as a team for state in the Class 4 Sectional 1 meet, the Flyers would need their top five to run as a tight pack.

Those top six key returning runners include Hannah Heagle, Laura Woods, Madison Russell, Meghan Illig, Mel Parridy and Mary Riley. Freshman Josie Korenak will be a top runner on the team as well.

“The ‘Power of the Pack’ will take us as far as we can go. Ultimately, every team needs some good luck until November and a great desire to win in November to close the season on a good note,” Gose said.