The time is finally here and, as usual, Lincoln is ready.

Both cross country teams will head to Henryetta on Saturday for the Class 4A regional meet, as the two teams are primed to make another run at a state championship.

The girls will be looking to go back-to-back after winning the 2023 state title last fall. The Bulldogs have won three state championships in school history.

Meanwhile, the boys will be looking for their 3rd straight state title and the 8th in school history.

Each team has had another fantastic season. Most recently, both the girls and boys cruised to team titles at the Pinnacle Conference meet at Holland Hall earlier this month.

The girls were led by individual champion Baylee Woodrich, runner-up Bentley Stewart and defending state champion Tennyson Housley, which finished 3rd overall.

The boys were impressive, as well, as sophomores Ty Brooks and Sammy Farris finished 2nd and 3rd, while Trevor Hacker, Garner McAfee, Elliot George and Colin Pogue each placed in the top 10.

Head coach Stephen Lewelling has prepared his team for this two week stretch all year and heading back to a familiar place is just fine with him.

"We're excited to be heading to the rodeo in Henryetta," said Lewelling. "It's the regional we've been to the most over the last several years so we're familiar with the course."

It will have been two and a half weeks since the Bulldogs took home the Pinnacle Conference titles, so Lewelling is interested to see how his team responds on a tough course.

"It is a challenging route over rough ground and has lots of twists and turns," he said. "I don't expect fast times but we'll be able to get a good idea of how well our fitness has come along since our last meet at conference."

The girls have had a great season, highlighted by a runner-up finish at the Lincoln Mile to open the season, a 4th place finish at the Owasso Relays and a 3rd place showing at the Rogers State meet.

"The girls are primed to have a great meet." Lewelling said. "Their training has been really sharp lately and I see them doing very well."

Woodrich has the top time in all of Class 4A for 2024 and was rated the No. 8 runner in the state, all classes, by MileSplitOK.

The girls are currently ranked No. 2 in Class 4A, as they have been all year, behind No. 1 Pauls Valley.

The boys opened the year with a team win a the Lincoln Mile, then followed that up with a runner-up finish at the Owasso Relays. The boys also took home 4th place as a team at the Rogers State meet.

"The boys times have been together all year and I expect them to run as a unit," said Lewelling. "Ty (Brooks), Sammy (Farris), Trevor (Hacker) and Garner (McAfee) should come through together with Colin (Pogue), Elliot (George) and Ben (Bouldin) close behind."

The boys have been the top-ranked team in Class 4A all season, ahead of No. 2 Byng.

"Getting through the regional meet is a step to our final destination and we're enjoying the journey," he said.

The teams will compete at the state meet on Nov. 2.