As the cross-country season gets underway, one thing is a certainty: The Southern Regional boys are loaded with talent.

“We have lofty expectations,” said coach Scott Baker. “The goal is to always be the best version of ourselves, and this team has the capabilities of being one of the best assembled in the history of Southern cross-country.”

Considering the Rams have won the Ocean County title multiple times during the past 10 years, Baker’s preseason assessment says a lot.