With results come expectations, and that will be no different for both Lincoln cross country teams this fall.

The teams kicked off practice in the latter half of July and will look for big results again in 2025, as the boys look for the program's 4th state title in-a-row and the girls will attempt to three-peat.

The boys have won eight titles in 11 years, while the girls have won four championships as a program, also taking state in 2016 and 2019.

Head coach Stephen Lewelling has 15 state titles under his belt as the leader of both cross country programs and both track programs for Lincoln.

And even for Lewelling, it's hard to believe where these program's have arrived to.

"One of the alumni reminded me this would be the 4th-in-a-row for the boys and it caught me off guard," Lewelling said.

Lewelling preaches to his team to stay in the present, and does the same himself, which has helped make the programs great from top to bottom.

"I truly don't think about those things. I take the day at hand, plan out a month ahead and try to keep everyone happy and healthy then let God work out the rest," he said. "Our expectations are to love Jesus, be nice and work hard."

The boys have become as good as any program in the state and have no signs of giving up any ground, as the talent level and depth are impressive.

"Our boys are a freight train with no sign of slowing down," Lewelling said. "The top eight could all be any other schools top two or three and it's fun to watch because they're my kind of athlete — they don't talk much, work hard and enjoy pushing their limits."

Ty Brooks, Sammy Farris, Trevor Hacker, Garner McAfee and Ben Bouldin return to lead the Bulldogs this fall.

Brooks was runner-up a year ago and won four gold medals in the spring at the state track meet.

Hacker and McAfee finish 8th and 9th, respectively last fall, while Farris was 12th individually. 

The boys set the state record for team time at state last season.

On the girls side, Lewelling is proud of strides the program have made, from a top tier program a few years ago to one of the elite in the state.

"The girls have evolved from a very good program to one of the elite in the stat," he said. "Adding some key freshmen makes us as deep as ever. We're onto something special with this group. The key for these girls is selflessness and putting Jesus first."

Tennyson Housley, Bentley Stewart and Brynlee Durborow return for Lincoln to lead the way.

Housley was the state champ as a freshman and finished runner-up to Lincoln's Baylee Woodrich last fall.

Stewart was 8th last fall. Durborow has been a key member of both the cross country and distance track teams throughout her career.

Lincoln will also welcome newcomers in freshmen Madison Miller, Isabella Truitt and Brea Gardner.

"They came in with no hesitation and will be huge contributors," said Lewelling.

Lincoln set the school record for team average in the 2-mile and 5K last season, while also finishing as the fastest ever in Class 4A.

Lewelling's teams has been busy this summer, as the head coach has been known for pushing his teams to make big strides in preparation for the kickoff of the season in early August.

"Our summer was successful," he said. "Building blocks were laid, relationships formed and expectations set."

One of the things Lewelling noticed was how diverse the summer was for much of his team, both while running and involvement with the church.

"The things that stood out is the range of our kids experiences," he said. "We had several go out of country for mission trips, and we had six guys that went to Flagstaff for a cross country camp."

No matter what they were doing, most of the group was still putting in the work, racking up impressive mile totals in preparation for the season.

"I also noticed how many of the kids stepped up and ran big miles like Trevor Hacker and Tennyson Housley, who routinely got 30 miles a week," he said.

That'll help Lewelling and team get off to a quick start, as usual, which is one of the keys, along with the understanding that it's a long season.

"The key early in the year is finding joy in the monotonous," Lewelling said. "It's about making the tough days good and the good days great. We are the average of our actions, so we can't have bad days but not every day has to be a 'mountain mover.'"

The always tough schedule should help with that, as Lewelling always tests his teams right out of the gate and throughout the season, which ultimately makes a big difference when it matters most.

"Last year we got to post season meets (regional and state) and it was the easiest stretch of our season," Lewelling said. "I make our schedule to give our kids the best opportunity for success, provide big experiences and find meets that are conducive to positioning us to show our huge preparation on a big stage."

Needless to say, both teams are hungry to get going in 2025, as they continue to chase history by staying present, one of the things that has helped them arrive at the top.

"Our kids have a certain expectation and goals to match so we're fortunate to build on successes," Lewelling said. "We tend to put the last season to bed and move on."

"I think the habits of championship seasons help but no one cares what you did last season when you're racing head to head. Each season is a new opportunity to be challenged and pushed in ways you didn't know you could be."

The teams open the season on Saturday at the Riverside 5000 in Tulsa before going to Deer Creek on Aug. 23 and the Owasso Relays on Aug. 28.