Siuslaw runner Celie Mans is miles ahead of last summer, when two stress fractures — one a heel, the other a tibia — cost her precious training time.

Now she feels poised for a big year as the defending Far West League girls cross-country champion leads her teammates into the season-opening North Bend Tugman Invitational.

"Tugman is a league preview," says Chris Johnson, Siuslaw's successful cross country coach. "Not all of the league schools show up every year, but most participate. It is on the district course."

The entries included league rivals Brookings-Harbor, Douglas, Marshfield, North Bend and South Umpqua.

Other schools running include Sutherlin, Bandon, Gold Beach, Myrtle Point, Coquille, Oakland and Pacific.

"This is our first meet, so it's one to dust off the cobwebs," says Johnson. "It's always fun to get a race under your belt.

"Sometimes kids surprise you when they face competition."

One surprise will not be an outstanding performance by Mans, who feels primed to challenge defending champion Sailor Hutton of Bandon for the individual title at Tugman. Hutton and Mans finished 1-2 in 2014.

"Last year I couldn't train all summer, and I wasn't able to run until two weeks into the season," says Mans. "So it feels good to have a base. I am really excited about this year."

It wasn't that 2014 was a lost season for Mans, who won individual titles at the Molalla Invitational and the Paul Mariman Invitational in Philomath.

Mans went on to win the league title by more than a minute over her nearest rival. She placed fourth in the state championship, just 17 seconds behind winner Lexi Healy of Henley, 11 seconds behind Danielle Jantzer of Phoenix and 4 seconds back of Aria Blumm of Sisters.

Blumm graduated, but Healy is a returning senior and Jantzer a junior.

But first things first for Mans, a 4.0 student at Siuslaw High School who aspires to run cross country in college and one day be a surgeon.

Target one is her good friend and nemesis of many years, defending 3A/2A/1A champion Sailor Hutton, who is a sophomore this year at Bandon.

"She's good, she's really good," says Mans. "She loves to run, just like me."

Mans may not have been born to run, but close to it. She began running in grade school with her parents, Florence optometrists Julie Kittock and Robert Mans.

"They love to run, just for fun," says Mans. "I like running a lot. It makes me feel good."

And run she does, 30 to 40 miles during an average week.

She mixes in other base-building activities, such as weight training, aqua jogging and stretching.

"Coach Johnson is always looking for ways to make us better," says Mans. "He gave me a video on stretching exercises, and it has really helped.

"He's a great coach. He pushes us the right amount to get us to do the best we can do."

That will be put to the test when Johnson trots out his latest boys and girls teams at the Tugman.

"We are pretty young on both sides," says Johnson. "So it's one day at a time."

For Mans, it's one mile at a time, one workout at a time, as she builds a base for what could be a stellar junior year.

"I feel so much better this year," she says. "I can run longer and faster. And I'm really excited about the team.

"I think we have a lot of potential, and I can't wait to see how far we can go with it."