Sara Dalle is back as Richmond’s varsity head cross country coach.

After being on maternity leave during last season, when Jordan Graves was head coach, Dalle returns to lead a program that includes varsity girls runner Isabelle Dooley and some middle school girls. She hopes the middle schoolers will continue running in high school, so that Richmond can eventually run a complete team of five runners at meets – or “to hopefully have a girls team that can score,” as Dalle put it.

The program also includes some boys newcomers: Gabe Baker, Brody Burnine, Hunter Hamilton and William “Trip” Copple. Burnine, a sophomore, played boys tennis as a first-year high schooler, Dalle stated Aug. 9 via email. Hamilton, a freshman, is a first-time cross country runner, she stated. Copple, also a first-year high schooler, is the son of Bryan Copple, Richmond superintendent. Baker, a senior, opted to pursue the sport because he has some friends who run, he said.

“I like running,” he said after practice Aug.…