They're off and running.

When the starter pistol sounds at 10 a.m. Saturday, the cross country season will be underway.

The Ironton Fighting Tigers will take six runners - three boys and three girls - into the new season at the River Valley Invitational.

Ironton coach Tim Thomas is looking forward to seeing his runners in competition.

The boys are senior Nick Davis, junior Tim Vandermosten and sophomore Anthony Clark. The girls are seniors Julie Belville and Sara Hacker and junior Melanie Elkins.

"Vandermosten and Davis got better last year. They made three to four minute improvements. Hopefully, they can keep getting better and get down in the 18- to 19-minute range or lower," Thomas said.

"Clark likes to run, but he's had some injury problems he has to work through."

Of the three girls, Belville and Elkins ran last year while Hacker is in her first season.

"Hacker has looked pretty good and has worked pretty hard. She has some athletic ability," Thomas said.

"Belville has some athletic ability and Elkins is looking better and better. She has a good build for a distance runner. Her key is to get more aggressive."