Although there were many newcomers and inexperienced runners, Bibler is hoping they stick around. Plus, the Pacers lose only four seniors.

The boys team will lose Justin Kerby, Lewis Mergler and Daniel Nethers.

Nethers, who was one of the team's top two runners, was honorable mention all-OCC-Capital after finishing 19th in 17 minutes, 58.03 seconds in the league meet on Oct. 17 at Watkins Memorial. However, he was just beginning to get sick and missed three days of school the following week heading into the Division I, district 1 meet back at Watkins Memorial.

Nethers finished 84th in 20:23.65 at district Oct. 24, last on the team.

"Daniel had no practice that week and you could tell he was weak," Bibler said. "I know the course was muddy and there wasn't going to be anyone there with a (personal record), but you can tell by his time just how well he felt. We had a tough couple of weeks, with Zach Flint sick during the OCC meet and Bobby Oliver also not feeling well for the district meet."

Mergler was the team's sixth-man in the OCC meet, finishing 46th in 19:02.2. He was fourth on the team (74th, 19:28.61) at district. Kerby didn't compete in the team's last six meets.

The Pacers finished last (158) in the OCC meet, behind champion New Albany (38), Hilliard Bradley (66), Mount Vernon (82), Watkins Memorial (97), Big Walnut (105) and Orange (148).

Delaware was 12th (328) in the 13-team district, behind regional-qualifiers Pickerington North (38), Hilliard Darby (69), Dublin Jerome (89), Westerville Central (92) and Watkins Memorial (162), as well as Canal Winchester (185), Dublin Scioto (196), Mount Vernon (209), Lancaster (246), Orange (256) and Marietta (280). Newark (345) was last.

Expected to return are juniors Zac Davis, Mitch Graf, Oliver, Zach Reed and Steve Swisher, sophomores Flint, Connor McCabe, Seth McCurdy, Tony Morrison, Tommy Peterson and Justin Sistrunk and freshmen Spencer Martin, Thomas Oliver, Dante Schlabach and Tyler Smith.

Also competing in the league meet were Swisher (22nd, 18:03.11), Oliver (34th, 18:40.89), McCurdy (44th, 18:58), Flint (45th, 18:59.40), Peterson (48th, 19:05.83), Reed (54th, 19:23.53), Sistrunk (63rd, 19:40.60) and Davis (66th, 20:18.71).

In the district lineup were Swisher (43rd, 18:23.76), Flint (63rd, 19:01.82), Peterson (69th, 19:12.40), McCurdy (79th, 19:41.74) and Oliver (84th, 19:50.34).

"It was a young year, but with so many new faces and having them get a year's experience, I'm now expecting them to get in some serious offseason training," Bibler said. "They have to make up their minds that they want to be successful and be good runners."

• Andrea Salyer was the only senior on the girls team. She was 61st (26:35.86) in the league meet and 79th (27:17.76) in the Division I, district 2 meet.

The Pacers finished seventh (174) in the OCC-Capital meet, behind champion Watkins Memorial (48), Mount Vernon (56), Big Walnut (81), Orange (90), New Albany (113) and Bradley (125).

In the district, Delaware was ninth (246) in the 13-team field, behind regional-qualifiers Scioto (21), Dublin Coffman (63), Pickerington North (84) and Darby (127), as well as Westerville Central (137), Olentangy Liberty (155), Reynoldsburg (190) and Newark (212). Watterson (255), Teays Valley (302), Whetstone (373) and Groveport (391) rounded out the scoring.

"Well, Alanna was also sick and she didn't compete at district," Bibler said. "Plus, we just didn't run well the last few weeks, the boys or girls teams. I'd like to see the girls and boys really put in some work in the offseason and really push their miles up over the summer. The good things is that we gained a lot of experience this season and I'm expecting more from them next season."

Freshman Harlee Mollenkopf was honorable mention all-league after finishing 21st in 21:26.60. Her sister, Sierra Mollenkopf, was 30th in 22:04.60, followed by junior Kathleen Jackson (34th, 22:12.85), freshman Christiana Binkley (49th, 23:09.77), sophomore Alanna Sturgill (50th, 23:46.93), junior Kelly Robinson (59th, 25:00.51) and Salyer.

Sturgill was sick and did not compete at district. Harlee Mollenkopf (28th, 21:57.16) led the Pacers. She was followed by Sierra Mollenkopf (41st, 22:27.13), Jackson (51st, 22:53.09), Binkley (58th, 23:31.26), Robinson (71st, 25:37.32), Salyer and junior Caitlin Green (83rd, 29:45.30).

Also on the roster and expected to return were freshmen Mackenzie Heller and Destinee Hughes.

"We've got a good group of girls and the freshmen are competitive, so I think they'll continue to keep working at it and keep being excited to improve," Bibler said.