The Seymour Invitational later today at Freeman Field will mark the beginning of the year for both the boys and girls cross-country teams at Seymour and Brownstown Central.

For the Owls, their boys team is led by senior Jude Bane. He was the top runner one year ago for Seymour, and he has the opportunity to get in the low 16s — potentially under — this fall.

The other senior for the Owls is Carter Murphy, who was a varsity runner last year, as well.

After Bane and Murphy, it’s a mix of younger runners. Ty Tormoehlen was a freshman last year and had a solid track season, so he’s back as a sophomore this season. Sam Rockey, Kylan Ellerbe and Wes and Will Proffer look to compete for the other varsity spots.

Head coach Randy Fife said the Owls haven’t had the summer he wanted with injuries and other circumstances, so he expects this year’s team to get better as the season goes.

As for the girls, head coach Spencer Sunbury has two of his top runners back from last season. Vivienne Siefker and Kinsley Folsom, who both know what it’s like to be the No. 1 runner on the team, are looking to build off of last year.

Sunbury believes both of them have a chance to qualify for the state meet.

Grace Lewis and Caitlin Thomasma are the other two seniors on the roster looking to contribute.

After that, it’s a mix of young talent, such as sophomores Gracie Adams and Lucy Williams and freshmen AnnMarie Shuler and Lyndsey Greenawalt.

For the Brownstown Central boys team, sophomores Chance and Shane Ratliff are back after stellar freshman campaigns.

Head coach Derrick Koch expects them to keep improving.

“They put in some miles during track season and during the summer,” Koch said. “They’ve run some good times during our timed workouts. I’m pretty excited to see what they can do for this season.”

Koch also expects seniors Bradley Edwards, Dylan Wischmeier and Evan Sibrel to have a chance to get into the top five.

He also thinks freshman Damien Owens has been running well this summer.

“We’ve been putting in some miles,” Koch said. “I’m hopeful for this season. As long as we keep going up on the miles, it helps us.”

For the Brave girls, head coach Maria Conklin is looking at seniors Maddy Schepman, Madison Stuckwisch and Camryn Thompson to lead the charge.

“Definitely Maddy. She has been training pretty hard this summer, so I expect her to be in the top five,” Conklin said.

The Braves have a deep team this year, which excites Conklin. She said freshmen Trinity Cody and Cambell Shasteen both ran well in eighth grade, and she also expects Kelsey Schneider and Claire Schepman to contribute.

“I’m excited for the first meet so I can figure out who my top seven will be,” Conklin said.

Races at the Seymour Invitational are slated to start at 5:30 p.m.

The Crothersville boys cross-country team already kicked off its season last Saturday at the Warpath Invitational in Scottsburg.

The Tigers have enough runners to field a full team this year, but only Dirk Crater and Eric Walker ran last week.

Crater placed 13th overall with a time of 18:55, and Walker finished 50th overall with a 36:42.

The other three Tigers on the roster are Beau Napier, Corey Reynolds and Josh Reynolds. Crothersville will be running in the Southwestern (Shelby) Invite this Saturday.

For Trinity Lutheran, one athlete will be running cross-country this fall, and that’s sophomore Cheyenne Campbell.

Campbell ran cross last fall and she ran track in the spring. She is also part of the Cougars’ volleyball team, so her opportunities to run will be limited to weekends when she doesn’t have a volleyball match.