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The 2005 regional track meet was a disappointing one for the Moffat County boys track team. The Bulldogs had four fourth-place finishes; a third-place finish is required to qualify for the state meet.

"We were a young team that just missed on some things last year," coach Gary Tague said. "This year, most of those guys are back."

Senior Derek Duran has rough memories from the regional meet. He was on two relays that finished fourth, and he finished fourth as an individual in the 800 meters.

"It's tough to work so hard all year and then miss state but just a little," he said. "It can be motivation for this year."

Duran is one of a few seniors who are combined with a talented junior track class this year. Tague said that his junior class is one of the best he has had in his 28 years coaching at Moffat.

"There have always been patterns of ups and downs with classes," Tague said. "These juniors bring the team up."

Some of those juniors include thrower Cory Pike, sprinters Andrew Drake and Sam Weeldreyer and long-distance runners Jake Miller and Jeremy Bird. Drake, Weeldreyer and Miller competed at state last year.

Seniors Jake Bilodeau, Duran and Peter Bacich will help fill out the relays and provide senior leadership.

Other contributors to team points could be sophomore J.T. Haddan in the throws, junior Andrew Magas in the hurdles, Chad Eitel in field events and sophomore Mike McNicol in distance.

There are also a number of first-time tracksters Tague is keeping an eye on.

"We have four or five new guys who add depth," he said. "It's kind of up in the air about what level they'll compete at, but they'll add to the team."

Duran, Miller and Drake are three of the top finishers returning from past year. Duran finished fourth in one of the fastest 800s the region has had in the last 20 years. Miller competed in the 3,200 at state and finished in the top 20 in this year's state cross country meet. Drake was running times going into the regional meet that would have earned him a trip to state but he struggled in the heat of regionals.

"We have the studs to get a lot of guys to state," Tague said. "We also have the depth to help us at the regional."

The team, like all outside spring sports, has been inside for its first two weeks and then spent the next week on spring break.

"We had a late spring break and tough weather," Tague said. "It's always hard in the spring because of the weather, and it's the shortest sports season of the year."

When the team returns from spring break Monday, it will have seven weeks left in the season.

"We have the experience and ability to come on late in the season," Tague said. "We have the ability to do well then."