Division IOkinawaKadena Panthers, Kadena Air BaseCoach — Tom McKinney, eighth season, seven Okinawa Activities Council titles, three Far East meet team titles.Key performers — Boys, Jacob Bishop, Sr. (fourth at Far East last year); Tomas Sanchez, Sr. (15th at Far East last year); Brad Davies, Jr.; Andrewe Kilkenny, Fr. Girls, Andrea Grade, Sr. (10th at Far East last year); Rachel Burchill, Fr.; Mindy Adams, Fr.Overview — Always contending, for both the league and Far East team titles. They’ve been a step or two behind Seoul American the past couple of years at Far East, but have the stuff to make another deep run at both the OAC and Division I titles.

Kubasaki Dragons, Camp FosterCoach — Paul Campbell, ninth season.Key performers — Boys, Cristian Rodriguez, Sr. (13th at Far East last year); Roberto Betancourt, Sr. Girls, Rachael Hensen, Jr.; Melanie Medina, Jr.; Colleen Gannon, Jr.; Alle Robles, Fr.Overview — Rebuilding, especially with the departure of yet two more star runners, Seth and Abigail Wall, to Yokota.

GuamGuam High Panthers, Agana HeightsCoach — Joseph Taitano, fifth season.Key performers — Boys, Ahanu Kinney, Fr.; Christian Mundell, Sr.; Travis Martin, So.; Trevor Cheatham, Sr.; Justin Arrington, Sr. (transfer from Robert D. Edgren). Girls, Meagan Speck, Jr. (sixth at Far East last year); Alexis Bosworth, So. (fourth at Far East last year).Overview — Boys reloading, girls contending. Both squads long on experience, and newcomer Kinney has already shown great promise in three races. Panthers are 3-0 in both boys and girls standings.

South KoreaSeoul American Falcons, Yongsan GarrisonCoach — Steve Boyd, third season.Key performers — Boys, Andrew Murphy, Sr.; Anthony Chatineau, Sr.; John Graham, Sr. (14th at Far East last year). Girls, Siarria Ingram, So. (reigning Far East individual 3.1-mile race champion); Dorothy Krebill, Sr. (14th at Far East last year); Amanda Henderson, Jr. (second at Far East last year); Sally Lee, So.; Pam Henderson, Fr.Overview — Contending, contending, contending, despite losing 2009 boys Far East champion Thomas Kim. Ingram, Krebill and Henderson headline a girls squad that welcomes Henderson’s younger sister to an already strong lineup.

JapanYokota Panthers, Yokota Air BaseCoach — Vincent Szilagyi, fifth season.Key performers — Boys, Seth Wall, Jr. (transfer from Kubasaki); Michael Falkner, Jr.; Noah Swygert, Jr.; Johnny Cope, Jr.; Bryce Yazzie, So. Girls, Gabby Baker, Jr.; Katelyn Sult, Jr.; Lexus Perez, Sr.; Kassandra Samuel, Jr.Overview — Reloading-contending. Losing the Heimlichs and Keleka Mobley doesn’t help, and the lineup features no Far East top-15 finishers, but the Panthers do have a veteran lineup, many of whom have run together for three years. This may be the year Yokota steps into contention, especially at its home Tama Hills course in November.

Zama American Trojans, Camp Zama/Naval Air Facility AtsugiCoach — Brett Leonard, first season.Key performers — Boys, David Bordenare, Jr.; Derek Stephenson, So. Girls, Jasmine Quinn, So.Overview — The mother of all rebuilding jobs. Leonard describes the departure of former coach Mitch Moellendick as leaving a vacuum within both the team and the Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools program as a whole. Still, Leonard – an avid runner – has what he calls three solid blocks with which to build.

Nile C. Kinnick Red Devils, Yokosuka Naval BaseCoach — Philip Bailey, fifth season.Key performers — Boys, David Bailey, Sr. (eighth at Far East last year); Marcus Boehler, Jr. (11th at Far East last year); Christopher del Toro, Sr. Girls, Victoria Hardebeck, So.; Kara Madison, Jr.Overview — Rebuilding. Still a large contingent of runners, 50, the most Bailey has ever had, out for the Red Devils, but still learning and inexperienced; should hopefully turn the corner soon. “The more you have, the better your chances,” Bailey said.

Division IIJapanMatthew C. Perry Samurai, Marine Corps Air Station IwakuniCoach — Shannon Helvey, first season.Key performer — Boys, Marcus Crawford, Sr.; Matthew Smith, Jr.; Nick Krenek, Sr.Overview — Rebuilding. Helvey becomes Samurai’s fifth coach in five seasons. Boys could reach contending status by season’s end; girls team is entirely new.

E.J. King Cobras, Sasebo Naval BaseCoach — Tom Heitstuman, seventh season.Key performers — Boys, Travis Long, Sr.; Nathan Farley, Sr. Girls, Rachel Poluhowich, Jr.Overview — Rebuilding. Heitstuman does have a good, albeit small core group which could make a run at the Far East Division II team title.

Robert D. Edgren Eagles, Misawa Air Base, JapanCoach — Andre Thibert, eighth season.Key performers — Boys, T.J. Adamson, So. Girls, Jordan Schwartz, Jr.; Kiana Freysinger, Jr.Overview — Boys rebuilding, having lost Jacob Sterry and Justin Arrington to transfer; girls reloading. Eagles have one advantage at Far East, having run at Tama Hills Recreation Center many times. Still, this may be a team for the future.

South KoreaOsan American Cougars, Osan Air BaseCoach — David Hemmer, second season.Key performers — Boys, Justin Cooner, Sr. Girls, Makayla Hockenberry, Sr.Overview—Seriously rebuilding. Most of what looked like a promising squad has transferred or graduated, leaving Hemmer with a group of mostly freshmen, a sharp learning curve and hope for the future, with the Air Force now offering more three-year family tours to Osan.

Daegu American, Camp GeorgeCoach — Larry Knierim, sixth season.Key performer — None providedOverview — Rebuilding. Typically small Warriors squad made even smaller, having rough time recruiting enough numbers to field a complete team now that eighth graders are not permitted to run any more.

Significant dates this seasonThursday, Oct. 14

Independent Interscholastic Athletic Association of Guam All-Island Cross-Country Championship, Nimitz Hill Golf Course, 4 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 16

Kanto Plain Association of Secondary Schools championship cross-country meet at Tama Hills Recreation Center, Tokyo, 9 a.m.

Friday, Oct. 22-Saturday, Oct. 23

2010 Asia-Pacific Invitational meet, site to be determined, Guam.

Wednesday, Oct. 27

Okinawa Activities Council district finals, Kadena, Kubasaki, Okinawa Christian International and Zion Christian Academy at Zampa Park, 3:45 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 30

Korean-American Interscholastic Activities Conference championship cross-country meet, International Christian-Uijongbu, 10 a.m.

Monday, Nov. 8-Tuesday, Nov. 9

Department of Defense Dependents Schools-Pacific Far East High School Cross-Country Meet, Tama Hills Recreation Center, Tokyo.

Migrated