2016 Palo Verde Boys Cross Country Capsule

League: Class 4A Northwest League

Head coach: Nick Meis, fifth season

Returning lettermen: Three

Top athletes: Daniel Ziems (Sr.), Sawyer Epstein (Jr.), Evelio Vergara (So.)

Outlook: Ziems won the Sunset Region meet and finished 19th at the Division I state meet last year. He’s one of three returning lettermen for the Panthers.

Vergara was 40th in the state meet. Epstein took 16th in the Southwest League meet.

“We look to compete for one of the three spots to qualify as a team for the state meet in November,” Meis said. “Our key to a successful season will be our depth and the development of our underclassmen.”