MANSFIELD – After a long and rigorous preseason camp, the Mansfield University men's and women's cross country teams are ready to open their season when they travel to Hamilton College (NY) on Saturday, September 10 for the Hamilton Short Course Invitational.

There are high expectations for the Mountaineer women's team who return seven runners from last year's squad along with senior Brenae Edwards who took a redshirt last cross country season. Mansfield was ranked in the top five in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference preseason coaches' poll, but the Mounties have their sights set higher.

Of his team, head coach Mike Rohl said that “the most important thing is they believe they can do something special.”

Edwards has been leading the pack during the preseason and is a full two minutes faster than her 2009 breakout season in which she placed 6th at the PSAC and NCAA Regional meets. The senior is in great shape and it showed at the Colton Point time trial when Edwards smashed her previous team record at the challenging uphill course.

Behind Edwards is a tight pack of runners who Rohl describes as the “Fab Five” that includes juniors Becky Kratz and Kait Chegwidden, sophomores Jess Scordino and Kristy Scordino, and freshman Susan Learn. Kratz, Chegwidden and the Scordino sisters were all members of the 2010 team that placed 8th at the PSAC meet and 10th at the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional meet.

“They have all improved their condition from last year and are starting out a minute faster for 5k then they did at this time last year” said Rohl.

Learn, who was a three time PIAA state medalist in high school, has had an instant impact for the Mountaineers setting the women's freshman record at the Colton Point time trial.

Freshman Rachael Tylock will transition from racewalking, where she finished 4th in the mile racewalk at the National High School Championships.

Senior Kelly Hollenbeck and juniors Margaret Bambling, Bethany Wigfield, and Kristin Von Bevern provide additional depth.

The men's team returns 10 athletes from last year's squad and is led by junior Bud Plaszenski who placed 22nd overall last year at the NCAA Division II Atlantic Regional Championships. Plaszenski, a nursing major, is currently training alone because he is studying at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, PA in order to fulfill his course requirements.

Following Plaszenski is a tight group of runners in senior Kevin Cusworth, juniors Alex Beard, Orion Bernard and Michael Robinson and sophomores Wes Winter and Will Mullen. The men have been impressive in big meets earning a 9th place finish at the 2010 PSAC meet and a 14th place finish at the NCAA Regional meet. Rohl says that the group “has really improved the mental side of their training.”

Freshman Jesse Jones is a three time New York high school state championships participant while fellow newcomer Chance Cook has made the Pennsylvania state championships four times in his high school career.

Seniors Aaron Reardon, Nate MacNabb and Glendon Zimmerman will add depth to the men's team.