This year's women's cross country team has several new faces, although many have returned from a young 2004 squad.

Top returnee, Sarah Willis (Buckland, Mass.), a sophomore co-captain, looks to regain her form after a tough injury slowed her performances the latter half of last season. The outstanding runner, a winner of three collegiate races last season, "should be even better when it really counts," according to Coach Dann.

Other returners looking strong during the preseason are sophomore co-captain Aubrey Gray (Winthrop, Mass.) and, from the same class, Jasmine Smith (Standish, Me.). "I see a jump from their freshman year already," says Dann. Also returning to help the team are senior Shannon Flynn (Manchester, N.H.) and sophomore Suzanne Connelly (Hingham, Mass.).

New faces this season include Robin Caron (Portage Lake, Me.), a senior first-time runner, and local Michelle Sanborn (Standish, Me.), who, according to Coach Dann, "ran all summer to make the team," as well as several first years: Sara Forrest (Westport Island, Me.), Xue Chen (Lewiston, Me.) and Jessica Desrosiers (Mechanic Falls, Me.).

"We are young in terms of racing experience, but I think we have a nice core of runners who want to improve."