A change every girls’ cross country team is enduring this season is the increase in the race length.The board of the directors of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union voted unanimously in January to increase the distance of Iowa girls high school cross country meets by six-tenths of a mile to a total of 3.1 miles.

Lone Tree Lion head cross country coach Caylon DeVaul says it’s a change the girls have slowly accepted, “If you were to ask the girls in the spring (about the mileage increase), a lot of them weren’t to hip on the idea as they are now.” DeVaul said, “It was one of those things that I think was an intimidation factor for our girls when they first found out.”

DeVaul says from a coaching standpoint, it’s a good change, stating he can practice both of his team’s at the same distance.

The Lions’ girls’ cross country team is led by three-time all-conference runner Paige Doehrmann. Also returning to the girls’ team are sisters Devyn and Sydney Alt. DeVaul is also excited about incoming freshman Chole Jacque, who has been practicing with the team since she was in middle school.

The Lone Tree Lion cross country teams open their 2015 race season on Sept. 1, competing in the Iowa Mennonite School’s Early Bird Invitational. Hear a preview of this year’s Lion cross country team on the PM Sports Page this evening at 6 p.m. on KCII.