ITHACA, N.Y. -- 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 been a consistent force in women's cross country 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 even as a large, diverse squad boasts considerable improvement and a number of personal bests throughout the cross country season and into the track campaign. 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. And in 2008, another senior-laden group returned the Big Red to the upper echelons of the Heps while winning another ECAC team championship.

With an exciting blend of seasoned, experienced veterans and promising newcomers, the 2009 cross country team looks to add another great chapter to the program's run of success.

Leading the way will be senior captain Stephanie Pancoast, an All-Ivy, All-East and All-Region performer as a harrier and an NCAA competitor in the 3000 meter steeplechase in track.  She will be joined by an experienced pair of fellow seniors as Erin Roberts and Caroline Heidt have seen action at the cross country Heps and have contributed in the team's top seven.  Both have qualified for the NCAA Regional Championships in track and are well-versed in competing in big meets.

 A trio of rapidly improving juniors will also provide leadership and expect to contribute.  Kim Standridge and Maura Carroll are both NCAA Regional qualifiers who have been in the Big Red's top seven in the past and Kristin Sellers has improved significantly since arriving in Ithaca.  Sophomores Meghan Brown, Christine Smith, Emma Clarke, Christine Curtis and Shelby Herman all displayed real promise as freshmen and will be counted on to help the team's fortunes as well.

Historically, freshman 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 outstanding group of freshmen that come from all over the nation should make an impact.   Katie Kellner was a Footlocker National Finalist in cross country as a senior, Kelsey Karys won the Nike Northeast Regional cross country title, Genna Hartung was a New York state champion in the 3K, Kathryn Buchan was a mainstay on two national championship cross country teams at Fayetteville-Manlius while winning a 1500 state title of her own, Alyssa O'Connor is an Oregon state champion in track with impressive cross country credentials, Kate Rosettie was among New York's best as a harrier throughout her career, Sarah Cariati was a six-time high school All-American in track and Cara Costich proved to be among the best in Connecticut as a senior.

The 2009 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 11.  The Big Red travels upstate to Buffalo Stampede on September 19 and will race at the Paul Short Memorial Run against some of the nation's best Bethlehem, PA on October 2. Cornell will race at Penn State's National Invitational on October 16. The Reif Memorial Run on October 23 precedes the Heptagonal championships, which will be held October 30 at Van Cortlandt Park. The NCAA Regional championships will return to Franklin Park in Boston on November 14, and the season concludes with the NCAA Championships at Indiana State on November 23.