Marlins Athletic Director Steve Reaves expects five varsity girls and six varsity boys to return from last year’s district champion cross-country teams on Monday, Aug. 9, when runners will begin working toward another district trophy.

The first race will be for varsity spots, Reaves said.

“That will show us who’s done some conditioning over the summer,” he said.

Two-a-day practices will be scheduled at 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. each day leading up to the first cross-country meet on Saturday, Aug. 28.

Reaves said the practice runs will vary from day to day, depending on the type of training runners are doing. Girls will race 2 miles and boys will race 3.1 miles the first day, but teams will run greater distances as practice progresses, he said.

“Both teams won district championships last year, with the boys making it all the way to state,” Reaves said. “We are expecting big things again this year. The kids have worked hard all summer and are excited about the year.”

Prospective runners should report to the high school at 7 a.m. Monday, Aug. 9, for the first practice.