Halloween is the biggest date on the calendar this year for Siuslaw High School cross country coach Chris Johnson.

It's the day the Vikings take a run at the 4A state championships at Lane Community College in Eugene.

"The end date this year is Halloween," says Johnson, who has 10 state titles in cross country and two in track and field at Siuslaw. "Our planning starts with the state meet, and then we work backward.

"In the spring, we start with the (two-day) state championships, and then we work backward. It's the biggest three days of the year for us."

The 45-year-old English teacher has a talented group of runners now preparing to open the 2015 season Wednesday, Sept. 9, at the North Bend Tugman Invitational at Tugman State Park.

"The girls were third in state last year, and we lost three scorers," says Johnson. "But the girls are pretty strong, and if we can get everyone to practice, we'll be one of the teams to beat."

The Lady Vikings are led by junior Celie Mans, who was a team-best fourth place in states in 2014.

"Celie is a real standout, all-state two years (as a freshman and sophomore)," says Johnson. "She will be in the mix for (an individual) state title."

Other top returnees include seniors Sierra Potter and Mikaela Siegel and sophomore Lainey Goss. Potter was 18th in states and Siegel 49th, while Goss finished 55th as a freshman.

"In girls (competition) you never know," says Johnson. "Freshmen can come in and be pretty strong."

The Vikings have two freshmen — sisters Kaeli and Trinity Ramos — who could be difference-makers at states.

"The Ramos girls are twins, and they're real studs," says Johnson. "They're the key (to a team title)."

The boys team finished sixth in states in 2014 and lost two scorers to graduation, fourth-place finisher Seth Campbell, who will be competing at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, and Jonathan Griffes, who was 37th at states, who will run for Corban University in Salem.

"The boys are young, a bit on the inexperienced side," says Johnson. "They have a chance to win a (Far West) League title and finish well in states. That's probably a realistic goal."

Juniors Jack Pickell (30th) and Andrew Rannow (51st) and sophomore Isaac Griffes (54th) are returning scorers from last year's state championships. Kyle King hopes to build on an 80th-place finish as a freshman.

"You need a big stick, a top runner, to place well," says Johnson. "We have that with Celie. She works hard, she trains hard, she sleeps right, she eats right. She's a coach's dream."

Johnson's game plan for another state title is both simple ("The longterm plan is for distance runners to increase their aerobic development," he says) and detailed, with a week-by-week, day-by-day distance workout handout titled "Become a Legend."

For the most dedicated of his runners, there may be no more than three or four weeks off in a calendar year.

"The kids know if they come every day and be consistent, they'll get better," he says. "It's not a game. Distance running is hard work."

Workouts include pushups, situps, stretching, weightlifting, faster-paced tempo runs once a week, fartlek training (mixing speeds) and a weekly long-distance run.

"Celie's long run will be 95 minutes, maybe 12, 13 miles," says Johnson, who still runs about 35 miles a week himself.

It's a system that has worked well for Johnson over 20 seasons as head coach of Siuslaw cross country, producing six girls state titles and four boys state titles.

"Nothing's ever easy," he says. "We've had some success over the years, and this year we could be real good.

"But we're a long way from that right now. Every year we have to reteach the basics, try to create an infrastructure so kids know what to expect year-round."

Will it pay off this year?

The next time you hear a kid chime "trick or treat," you might have your answer.

ROSTER (TENTATIVE)
Girls
Freshmen — Kaeli Ramos, Trinity Ramos.
Sophomores — Lainey Goss, Kaylee Graham, Hayleigh Middleton.
Juniors — Jenna Cho, Celie Mans, Destinie Tatum, Coolidge Taylor.
Seniors — Sierra Potter, Mikaela Siegel.
Boys
Freshmen — None.
Sophomores — Isaac Griffes, Kyle King, Jordan Northrop.
Juniors — Sean Burns, Jack Pickell, Andrew Rannow.
Senior — Tyler Williams.

Online resource: http://www.athletic.net/CrossCountry/School.aspx?SchoolID=183