Former FHS running standout Keith Revels resigned as Tiger boys cross country coach last spring and turned the program over to another ex-Farmington elite runner.
Lisa (Dingman) Lippold, a two-time state meet runner in high school and an all-American performer in college, took over the reins of the Tigers this past summer and is looking forward to the challenge of moving her alma mater's program forward.
"We want to become a team that others are looking out for," she said. "We have a good number of boys fighting for the top seven spots.
"They have been working hard so far. It has been rewarding to see the determination on their faces during a hard day at practice."
If Lippold is to improve on Farmington's 2010 fifth place finish in the Missota Conference and eighth place showing at the Section 1AA Championships, she will have to do so without the benefit of a wealth of experienced athletes.
Nine members from last year's team were lost to graduation, including state meet qualifier Elliot Fenske and 2010 male Athlete of the Year Carl Elmer.
Lippold will build her team around the nucleus of junior letterwinners Adam Wallenta and Ben Olson and sophomore monogram winner Dan Block.
Senior Patrick Sunderman, juniors Tyler Lerbakken and Caleb Seiffert and sophomore Jake Rudeen have all looked good in early practice sessions and a host of other hopefuls could also make a strong push for the varsity lineup.
The first-year coach said she really doesn't have a clear picture of how her team will stack up against the conference and section competition.
"I won't know that until we run a couple of meets and I see how the boys are responding to the workouts," she said.
Red Wing claimed the conference crown last fall while Owatonna won top honors in Section 1AA.
Lippold isn't the only new face on the Tiger coaching staff. Tiger girls track coach Tom Hart comes on board as varsity assistant coach. Connie Berg will work with the middle school runners.
The Tigers open their 2011 season Friday, Sept. 2, when they head to Eagan for the annual Dakota County Championships.
