The Legacy Prep Christian Academy girls cross country team is back.

Well, did they ever leave?

After winning the TAPPS 4A State Meet a year ago, coach Casey Clark has his team in position for a possible repeat in 2022. The Lions finished second in State in 2020 and won State in 2019.

“Last year was so fun,” Aubrey Davis said. “We were so excited when we won State. There were a lot of nerves because it was really close, but we walked away with one of these (holding up her ring).”

Davis had a huge kick at the end of the State race last fall to propel Legacy Prep 78-74 for the title.

“Aubrey had four girls in front of her at the end of that race and passed them all,” coach Clark said. “It showed so much grit. It was a team effort, but that was impressive.”

Davis returns for her senior year and joins juniors Josie Jones and Audrey Sipko.

“We are pretty confident because we have a lot of us coming back,” Josie Jones said. “We are only getting faster too.”

Most recently, the Lions participated in the Covenant Christian Invitational. The varsity boys finished first, the varsity girls got second and the junior high girls earned a first-place finish.

“Legacy Prep and the cross country team is a family,” Sipko said. “It’s a very mental sport. You have to remember that if you keep putting in the work, eventually it will pay off.”

The cross country program has exponentially grown over the years under the direction of Clark from middle school to high school. It’s his culture that fuels the squad.

“I come from a running family, but I really didn’t want to do it,” Davis laughed. “But everyone is so supportive and fun that I can’t stop. I’ve fallen in love with the team and the sport under Coach Clark.”