John Bapst High cross country coach Len Miragliuolo has been around the sport for a long time.

Fourteen years, to be exact. In that time, he has coached state championship teams and state championship runners. In short, he knows a thing or two about what it takes to win in a sport where you can run one single race on tar, grass, and dirt while dodging twigs, pine cones, logs, puddles and just about anything else that could be left on the ground.

That is why he likes what he sees in this year’s John Bapst High boys team, which last week won the Old Town Invitational, beating out teams like Bangor, Brewer, Hampden and Old Town.

“This year, we’ve got the right type of kids with the right type of attitude,” Miragliuolo said. “Some of the kids have a lot of talent and enjoying running and working hard.”

The combination has made the Crusaders one of the up-and-coming teams in the Penobscot Valley Conference ranks this season.

Sports cycles being what they are, it’s been six years since the Crusaders boasted a strong boys cross country team.

“This year, they’re showing a lot of promise,” Miragliuolo said. “They all started out as freshman. There are no seniors in the first eight.”

Topping the list is David Dzurec, a junior. After him, the team bunches right up into a group with a very impressive pack. From Dzurec back to the eighth runner, Bapst has run a pack time as short at 20 seconds.

“The strength of the team is that, one through eight, they’re about 20 seconds (apart),” Miragliuolo said. “As far as becoming a real contender, that whole pack has to move up further.”

Marty Mains, a sophomore; Tom Miragliuolo, a junior; Dan Kearney, a sophomore; and Brendan Trainor, a junior, have primarily been featured as the top five runners.

Freshman Sean Coombs, sophomore Steve Ford (his father, Steve Ford, once held the John Bapst school record in the two mile), and sophomore Dylan Trainor (Brendan’s brother) round out the top eight. Paul Messer, a senior, can also sneak into the top eight.

“I think he’s got a real big team,” said Old Town Coach Dana Maxim. “Lenny has worked hard and the interest is there. They’ve got a good pack time. That’s what I’ve always stressed over the years. Pack time is so important.”

All told, Bapst features 18 boys runners and 13 girls.

“All of a sudden, we had the numbers come in,” Miragliuolo said. “We’ll be in the thick of things. Right now, they’re a year away from what I call being a threat to the top teams.”

While the boys team has gotten off to a solid start this season, Miragliuolo said his girls team was “young and weak.”

That’s weak as in “not physically strong.”

“The boys have been healthy, but the girls have struggled with injuries,” Miragliuolo said.

One of those girls coming off an injury is Jen Collenburg, who is coming off a broken toe.

“When she gets back in shape, she’ll be okay,” Miragliuolo said. “I don’t know if she’ll be able to this year or not.”

Freshmen Jessica Miragliuolo and Emily Sheren are running two and three for Bapst. Amy O’Donnell is the lone senior on the team.