ITHACA, N.Y. -- Bolstered by an exciting young corps of distance runners and an experienced group of juniors and seniors, the 2010 Cornell women's cross country team is poised to continue the Big Red's legacy of success in the fall. That history in women's cross country is notable: over the course of Lou Duesing's remarkable tenure at the helm of the women's cross country team, the Cornell women have proven to be among the very best in the East and the nation. With six trips to the NCAA Championships and three top-four trophy finishes at the NCAA Championships to go along with four Heps team titles and four ECAC team championships, the Big Red has been a consistent force in women's cross country in the Ivy League, in the East and in the nation over the past two decades.
 
Recent years have continued to demonstrate the team's ability to perform its best in the championship portion of the year. In 2006, a senior-laden team placed third at the Heps behind three All-Ivy individual performances and the team won its second consecutive ECAC title and sent an individual to the NCAA Championships. As with many of the top Cornell teams through the years, the senior class had its best year in its final campaign and led the squad to another memorable season. A much younger team in 2007 showed considerable promise throughout the fall and saved its best finishes for last, ending on a high note at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships and with a third place showing at the ECAC Championships. Yet again, the squad performed great in the championship portion of the year and the Big Red continued to make significant individual and collective progress during the subsequent track campaigns. In 2008, another senior-laden group returned the Big Red to the upper echelons of the Heps while winning another ECAC team championship. Last year, in 2009, Stephanie Pancoast '10 led a team with four freshmen in the top seven to a great campaign in which the Big Red was among the best in the Heps and saved its best for last with a 6th place showing at the competitive NCAA Northeast Regional Championships, a scant 13 points from third place.

An experienced and accomplished group of upperclassmen will lead the way in 2010. Setting the tone will be senior captain Maura Carroll, who has considerable experience in the Big Red's top seven and has proven to be among the best steeplechasers in the East and the Heps on the track. Classmate Kristin Sellers has improved each year in both cross country and track and should contribute as well. Junior Meghan Brown has been a fixture in the Big Red's top five throughout her career and is a Heps scorer on the track. Her classmate, Emma Clarke, is poised for a big breakthrough as well after an outstanding track season. Indeed, a deep group of juniors, including Shelby Herman, Janel Parker and Christine Smith could also help the Big Red cause as well.
 
Last year's freshmen, now sophomores, proved themselves more than ready for collegiate competition in 2009 and, after track seasons in which they continued to improve, should make an even greater impact on the team in 2010. Genna Hartung was the team's top freshman in 2009 and placed 11th at the Heps, earning All-Ivy and later, All-Region, honors during her rookie campaign. After finishing her freshman cross country season with her best race at the NCAA Northeast Regional Championships, Kelsey Karys set school freshmen records in the 3K indoors and outdoors and competed at the First Round of the NCAAs in the 5K in outdoor track, and is looking forward to another productive season. Katie Kellner was a valuable and consistent part of the team's scoring five during her freshmen year and after big PRs and Heps-scoring efforts in the distance events on the track in the spring, is ready for continued improvement as well. Not to be outdone, Cara Costich was in the top seven for the Big Red throughout the 2009 season and showed significant progress on the track. Other sophomores to watch include Kathryn Buchan, Alyssa O'Connor, Kate Rosettie and Neesha Schnepf, all healthy and ready to make a difference for the Big Red in their second year.
       
Historically, freshmen have had opportunities to contribute to the team's success and despite the multitude of returning runners, this year should be no different as a very good group of freshmen that come from all over the nation should make an impact. Devin McMahon was one of her state's best in both cross country and track in Washington, Elizabeth Simpson was all all-state performer in both cross country and track from Pennsylvania, Rachel Sorna proved to be among New York's best in cross country and was a national-level competitor in the steeplechase in track, Dale Kinney was one of New Jersey's top cross country runners, Emily Shearer was a top miler in California and Lauren Lapointe was an all-state cross country performer in Florida. 
       
The 2010 cross country schedule is similar to past years and should provide excellent competitive opportunities as the team points towards its top performances in the championship part of the year. The harriers open their season, as usual, with a dual meet against Army at West Point on September 10.  The Big Red travels up the road to Colgate for the Colgate Invitational on September 18 and will race at the Paul Short Memorial Run against some of the nation's best in Bethlehem, PA on October 1. Cornell will race at Penn State's National Invitational on October 16. The Reif Memorial Run on October 22 precedes the Heptagonal championships, which will be held October 29 at Van Cortlandt Park. The NCAA Regional championships will be contested in Connecticut on November 12 and the season concludes with the NCAA Championships at Indiana State on November 22.