Building up a high school athletic program often requires one step back for every two steps forward.

This year’s Salisbury cross country has taken a step in the right direction as it will see it’s first full girls team in several year. The Falcons also have a middle school program that will eventually supply the varsity team with a bigger roster.

On the down side, for the first time in a long time the Falcon boys team is likely not to have enough runners to score as a team. The good news is three runners from last year’s team are back this season and one newcomer will make the team just one short of a five-runner line up.

“Once the school year starts we’ll have a pretty good size girls team,” said Salisbury head coach Annie Purtell. “We always have had a strong boys team and only three girls. Now we have more girls than boys.”

The Falcons most experienced runner will lead the boys team in senior Emerson Juhasz, who ran as one of the team’s top two last year along with graduate Gregory Tenzer.

“We still have Emerson, so I’m happy about that,” said Purtell. “He’s been doing really well. He did really well in track and medaled in the 4x800 relay. I think that helps his confidence. He’s been running well in practice. It’s early, but once they start getting into shape I’m sure it will be great.”

Along with Tenzer, the graduated Cameron Kubinsky and Joshua Orach from last year’s team that went 5-25 in Colonial League dual meets.

The rest of this year’s boys roster includes returning seniors Rafael Carpo and Riley Nemitz, along with sophomore newcomer Isaac Mokua and freshmen Dean Cachia and Kaiden Conrad.

This year’s girls team will be led by returning seniors Samantha Conrad and Soledad Lausch. Juniors Lydia Fogel and Shelby Tenzer are also back with the team.

Freshman Annabella Tavares is a newcomer to the girls roster.

With two weeks before the season started the girls team already had enough runners to score in meets. Purtell, who was part of the Falcons’ track and field coaching staff in spring, recruited some athletes from that team and hopes a few more might join the team early in the season.