ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Cornell women's cross country team enters the 2011 season with energy and optimism after steady improvements over the past several years including break-out performances during the 2011 track season. An experienced and highly accomplished group of upperclassmen will lead the way while several newcomers have the ability to contribute to the team's fortunes.

The team boasts unusual depth in 2011 with eleven individual ECAC qualifiers in the distance events in track returning as well as impressive up-front strength with school record holders, All-East and All-Region performers and NCAA qualifiers returning to lead the charge. Ten different women return who have been in Cornell's top seven in cross country, an experienced group that expects to be competitive once again in the Heps and in the East. The Big Red also has a schedule that will give it an opportunity to test itself against the best in the nation.

Cornell women's cross country and track teams have been defined by great senior leadership and this year should be no different. The 2011 squad will be led by senior captain Meghan Brown, a Heps scorer in the mile and a steady contributor to the Big Red's top five in cross country throughout her career. Classmate Janel Parker returns for her final season after a breakthrough junior year in which she was in the team's top seven in cross country, won the Eastern title in the 1000 meters and anchored the Cornell distance medley relay to the Eastern championship. Christine Curtis, Shelby Herman and Christine Smith have all been important to the team's success in the past and will look to continue to improve and contribute again.

Underclassmen will also be able to look to the junior class for leadership, especially given the success that they've had since arriving in Ithaca. In particular, Genna Hartung, Kelsey Karys and Katie Kellner have been key contributors to the Cornell cross country team throughout their careers. Karys and Kellner finished first and second in the Heps 10K in the spring 2011 and emerged as two of the best long-distance runners in the East, and indeed the nation, during their sophomore track season.

Karys earned All-Region honors in cross country as a sophomore, sits in the school top 10 in every Cornell distance event and broke the 19-year-old school record in the 10K in 2011. Kellner earned a bronze medal at the indoor Eastern Championships in the 5K and is also on the school all-time lists in the 3K and 5K. She ended the season by breaking Karys' school record in the 10K. Hartung holds the course record at Cornell's Moakley Course and is an All-Ivy and All-Region performer in cross country who emerged as one of the finest steeplechasers in the East as a sophomore.

Cara Costich has also been a consistent part of the Big Red's top seven throughout her career, and after continued improvements in track where she qualified for the ECACs in multiple events, she appears ready to aid the Big Red cause even further. Alyssa O'Connor had a breakthrough track season in her second year at Cornell when she competed at the First Round of the NCAAs in the 1500 and earned a bronze medal in the 1000 meters at the Indoor Eastern Championships. Kate Rosettie enjoyed a healthy sophomore campaign that led to great experiences at the cross country Heps and at the ECACs in track, and she has the tools to make a difference. This deep group also includes ECAC qualifier Neesha Schnepf and rapidly improving steeplechaser Suzana Markolovic.

Last year's freshmen made a big contribution in their first season and expect to continue to improve as sophomores. Devin McMahon earned All-Ivy and All-Region honors and competed at the NCAA cross country championships in a remarkable rookie campaign for the Big Red, and she returns with several classmates who improved considerably in track. Rachel Sorna set the school freshman record in the steeplechase, placed third at the event at the Heps and earned All-East honors in a great outdoor season, while Dale Kinney qualified for the ECACs in the 3000. Also keep an eye on Emmy Shearer and Liz Simpson, both of whom could contribute significantly.

Newcomers have always played a big role in the Cornell women's success, and an impressive group of freshmen will look to further the Big Red cause in 2011. Christine Driscoll and Sydney Williams of New York, Anna Johnson and Katie Johnson of California, Abigail Clifford of Ohio, Marianne Collard of Illinois, Corey Dowe of New Hampshire and Jade Williams from Wales all had accomplished prep careers and could make a sizeable impact right away.

Returners and newcomers alike will take advantage of a highly competitive schedule. The Big Red will open the season at home against Army and Binghamton on the Moakley Course on Friday and follow that with difficult meets throughout September and October culminating in Cornell hosting the 25th annual John Reif Memorial Run at the Moakley Course on Friday, Oct. 21. After a competitive regular season, the Big Red will be well-prepared heading into the Cross Country Heptagonal Championships, to be held at Princeton for the first time, on Oct. 29. The NCAA Northeast Regional Championships will be in Buffalo on Nov. 12 and the NCAA Championships return to Terre Haute, Ind. on Monday, Nov. 21.