The Siuslaw Vikings cross country teams open their 2016 season Saturday at the Ash Creek Festival in Monmouth.

"There are some great teams with competitive individuals, so we should get a good test," Siuslaw coach Chris Johnson said.

"We are young and it's early. It will be fun to see how we compete."

Senior Celie Mans, defending state 4A champion, is the lone Vikings girl at the varsity level in the event, according to the race's current entry list.

The annual event is held at Western Oregon University's Ash Creek Preserve.

Siuslaw will compete in the varsity boys team race with Ryan Alletson, Isaac Griffes, Kiger Johnson, Nordan Northrop and Jack Pickell.

The Vikings' junior-varsity girls team includes Bryn Clement, Trinity Erickson, Chloe Madden, Kaeli Ramos, Hannah Rannow, Destinie Tatum and Anne Wartnik.

Siuslaw's JV boys team includes Sean Burns, Clark Hooper, Jonah Jarman, Robert Mans and Jared Northrop.

Next week the Vikings will be at the North Bend Tugman Invitational on Wednesday, Sept. 14, and the Northwest Classic in Eugene on Saturday, Sept. 17.

Siuslaw's girls and Mans will be opening defense of their titles in both the Far West League and the Oregon School Activities Association state 4A championships.

Siuslaw's boys team finished second in league and ninth in state in 2015.

The Vikings girls are led by Mans and Tatum, who won the 4A state title at 800 meters last spring, and Ramos, who was 31st at state as a freshman.

Senior Annmarie Precht, who won district titles at 100 and 200 meters last spring, is expected to join the team Friday, according to Johnson.

Top returning boys runners for the Vikings are Pickell and Griffes.

Pickell, who entered the 2015 season injured, ran his best 5,000-meter time of 17 minutes, 18.0 seconds at the 2014 state championships.

Griffes clocked a personal-record 17:25.0 at the 2015 Far West League Championships.

Senior Sean Burns, who has a PR 18:37.0, was 75th at state in 2015.

Boys roster

• Ryan Alletson, senior, no record since 2011
• Sean Burns, senior, PR 18:37.0 at 5,000 in 2015 Far West League Championships, finished 75th at state
• Isaac Griffes, junior, PR 17:25.0 at 5,000 in 2015 Far West League Championships, finished 50th at state
• Clark Hooper, senior, no record
• Jonah Jarman, freshman, PR 12:00.7 at 3,000 in 2014 Sunset Beach Invitational
• Brendon Jensen, freshman, PR 11:28.6 at 3,000 in 2015 The Run for the Brownies
• Kiger Johnson, freshman, PR 11:24.6 at 3,000 in 2015 PDX State Middle School Championships
• Robert Mans, sophomore, PR 20:39.0 at 5,000 in 2015 Far West League Championships
• Jared Northrop, freshman, PR 11:59.5 at 3,000 in 2015 PDXC State Middle School Championships
• Jordan Northrop, junior, PR 19:05.6 at 5,000 in 2015 Prefontaine Memorial Run
• Jack Pickell, senior, PR 17:18.0 at 5,000 in 2014 state 4A championships, finished 53rd at 2015 4A state championships

Girls roster

• Bryn Clement, freshman, PR 15:10.3 at 3,000 in 2015 Run for the Brownies
• Trinity Erickson, freshman, PR 16:00.7 at 3,000 in 2015 Run for the Brownies
• Chloe Madden, freshman, PR 14:39.0 at 3,000 in 2014 Sunset Beach Invitational
• Celie Mans, senior, PR 18:27.6 at 5,000 in 2013 George Fox Classic, finished 1st at 2015 state 4A championships
• Annmarie Precht, senior, no record; defending Far West League champion at 100 and 200 meters
• Kaeli Ramos, sophomore, PR 20:45.0 at 5,000 in 2015 Far West League Championships, finished 31st at state
• Hannah Rannow, freshman, PR 13:25.5 at 3,000 in 2014 Sunset Beach Invitational
• Nicola Sabin, freshman, no record
• Destine Tatum, senior, PR 21:02.5 at 5,000 in 2015 George Fox Classic, finished 35th at state
• Anne Wartnik, freshman, PR 13:01.0 at 3,000 in 2013 Sunset Beach Invitational