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Pat Pollock knew he had something special in the fall of 1996 when a large group of freshman runners came out for the Cape Henlopen High School girls' cross country team.
The previous year, Pollock's first as head coach, the Vikings struggled to a 2-6-1 record and were overmatched in nearly every meet.
But with this new and talented group of youngsters, who included Jennifer Hicks, Danielle Guerin and Cole Pavlik, Cape was transformed into an overnight state power. That year, the girls team went 9-1, won the conference tournament and finished second in the state.
"You never know what's going to happen with girls' cross country," Pollock said. "I was in the right place at the right time."
Those freshmen are now juniors and have played a huge role in the team's 3-0 start to the 1998 season. Guerin has been the overall winner in two of those meets while Pavlik took first place in the other.
It's obvious to anyone close to the team that Cape's junior class possesses a large amount of natural talent. "They're naturals, but they work hard," Pollock said.
Although cross country is in many ways an individual activity, Cape has added a team ethic to the sport. Communication between teammates has improved along with pack-running skills.
"I think we all have a positive attitude and we're working real hard," said Hicks, a team captain. "I think the team is growing, it's been a good year so far."
Cape finished 9-1 last year but dropped in the state rankings following injuries to Hicks and senior Sara Popovich. But Hicks believes the team has gotten mentally tougher and feels it can compete with any opponent in the state.
"I'm really excited about how the season is going," she said. "We can do anything we put our minds to. It's a result of our work and practice."
The Vikings have gotten a boost this season from the return of Popovich, who missed most of last season with a hip injury, and the arrival of freshman Brittany Morris. Positive team chemistry has also been a major factor.
"That's what's nice about them, the girls all like each other," Pollock said. "They're starting to believe."
Equally as impressive this season has been the performance of the boys team, which also boasts a 3-0 record.
Led by junior Brian Kneipp, the Vikings are on a pace to improve over last year's 5-5 mark and could be poised for a 7-3 or 8-2 finish.
"We've got a new group, they've got a great attitude," Pollock said. "I think they've got one more upset in them." Freshmen Matt Riggin and Dean Popovich have given the team a boost along with juniors Justin Bragg, Chris Jackson, Robert Walsh and Brandon Streett.
Helping matters is a killer instinct that was absent in years past.
"We don't want anybody to beat us," Kneipp said. "I'm very happy with their whole attitude on running."
Cape opened the season with victories over Dover and Polytech before notching a narrow 27-29 win over Smyrna.
"I'm glad that we beat Smyrna," Kneipp said. "They are like our rivals from last year."
Kneipp has dropped his time into the 18:20's this season after being mainly in the 19-minute range last year.
"I've done pretty good so far. I'm getting wiser, I know when to pick up my pace in the race," he said. "I start thinking about the race a couple days ahead of time."
Working in the boys' and girls' favor is a schedule that features just one meet per week and places the toughest competition in the late stages of the season. Looming ahead are meets against conference powers Caesar Rodney, Lake Forest and Seaford.
"We have a dream schedule right now," Pollock said. "We've got some tough meets coming up and we're going to be tested."
But Pollock isn't surprised at the early-season success of both teams.
"We're where I thought we'd be right now," he said.
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