Senior Katie Zagata, right,will provide experience for the Seaside cross country team.

Seaside cross country endured a rare “rebuilding year” in 2017, under first-year coach Frank Januik.

The Seaside boys, fresh off a state championship in 2015 and a runner-up state finish in ‘16, ended up fourth in the Cowapa League meet last year, while the Seaside girls did not have enough runners to qualify for team scoring.

The good news — the Seaside boys only lost one senior, while the Lady Gulls have some experienced runners who could chase down top 10 finishes in the league meet.

Seaside’s big loss to graduation was Rafi Sibony, who took third in the league meet as a senior last year.

That leaves three runners with varsity league meet experience on the Seaside roster (as of Aug. 29): seniors Mathew Carpenter and Sam Henderson, and sophomore Cameron Lippert.

Leading the Lady Gulls are a trio of senior returners, including Ana Rojas, Hayley Rollins and Katie Zagata.

Rojas placed 26th in last year’s league meet.

Other runners adding depth to the Seaside lineup include junior Jacie Gregory, sophomore Brooke Blakenhorn, and freshmen Grace Landaker, Kimmberly Rodriguez and Elise Seppa for the girls.

Running for the Seaside boys will be juniors Nick Mace and Luis Moreno, and sophomores Sean Barnett, Henry Garvin, Jude Gomez, Francisco Rojas and Hayden Spratt.

The Seaside roster will be subject to change as the Gulls approach their season opener, today in Hillsboro at the Bill Chapman Invitational. Seaside also runs Sept. 8 in the Jewell “Elk Run” at Teevin Ranch.