The High Hill Hounds youth cross country team returned for its seventh season this fall with a new coach and a small number of runners.

But the Hounds’ goal remains the same and that is preparing the runners for the future.

The Hounds have eight runners this year, all of them 12 years old and under. They compete in the Central Missouri Athletic Circuit, which is a program for boys and girls 6-14 and has teams from other teams such as Mexico, Hallsville, Moberly and Fulton.

Ashley Milligan took over the program for Miranda Ford, who coached the team for six years. She said she has been staying in contact with Montgomery County High cross country coach Chasity Rodgers throughout the season.

“I’ve been working with Coach Rodgers on things,” Milligan said. “She’s been giving me some advice on things to do with the kids to make them like running, but not burn them out so that she can have them when they get to high school.”

Alva Powell, Amelia Vance, Emmersyn Alder, Emmett Fennewald, Kyler Milligan, Lillian Elder, Madeline Schroeder and Oscar Gilbert make up the Hounds’ roster. Kyler is the coach’s son.

The Hounds participated in six meets. Their season began on Sept. 12 at the CMAC Development Meet in Columbia. On Oct. 25, the team returned to Columbia to participate in the CMAC Championships at Gans Creek Cross Country Course, its final regular season meet.

Ashley Milligan said she has been pleased with the way the runners have been performing for the last two months.

“The kids work hard and they seem to be enjoying it,” she said.

Seven of the runners competed at the CMAC championship meet. Two of them -- Emmersyn and Kyler -- earned CMAC all-star recognition.

Emmersyn also received a medal at the CMAC meet, placing ninth with a time of 14:13 in the 3,000-kilometer course in the 11-12 girls division. She also placed at the Fulton, North Callaway and Moberly meets. Her best finish was fifth at the North Callaway T-Bird Trailblazers Invitational on Sept. 26.

“She is a solid runner,” Ashley Milligan said. “She has done really well. I think she’s been in the top 10 in every race. She’s built for running.”

Kyler Milligan placed 29th with a 10:30 in the 1,000-kilometer course in the 8 and under boys division. He placed in the top 15 in four other meets this season. His best finish was ninth at the Hannibal Legion Challenge on Oct. 3.

The Hounds will have some runners – including Emmersyn and Kyler – who will compete at the Cross Country Coaches National Youth Championship (CCCNYC) Regional Championships, scheduled for No. 8 at Buder Park North in Fenton. All of the runners at the regionals will look to qualify for the national meet, which will be at Cedarville, Ohio – located east of Dayton – on Nov. 21.