The Lewis-Clark women have finished the season ranked in the top 25 in each of the past 11 years, with the men reaching the top 25 for nine years straight. The women’s team owns nine and the men’s eight consecutive NAIA National Championship appearances. The Warrior standard is set high, yet every year the focus of the team remains on the potential to become greater and achieve more.

The key for the women’s team to improve upon its 15th-place finish at last year’s national championships is to count on its historically consistent depth.

Despite two key subtractions from last year’s national squad - No 2. LC finisher Kyli Astle and No. 3 LC finisher Lindsay Szybura - the Warriors return three from that team and have two additional runners with experience at nationals. Juniors Kelsey Klettke (Vancouver, Wash.), Stephanie Shuel (Yakima, Wash.) and Madison Randall (Eugene, Ore.) return from last year’s team, and senior Jessie Gulsvig (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and junior Amanda Palmer (Weiser, Idaho) bring nationals experience from two years ago.

"Our teams have always been deep," Collins said, "so we have a large number of returners that did not make the [national] team last year, but are very hungry to make that team this year."

Several others will compete for the opportunity to run in the top seven during the postseason. The list includes sophomore Chelsey Leighton (Lapwai, Idaho), who was an alternate a year ago, as well as sophomore Amy Watkins (Melba, Idaho), who was the team’s No. 7 runner at the Frontier Conference meet last season. Additionally, senior Casey Hampton (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) and junior Francis Rojas (Lima, Peru) are looking to make an impact on the women’s team. Collins said they are in great shape and are extremely motivated.

In order to fill the holes left by Astle and Szybura, the Warriors will also look to their freshmen. Redshirt freshman Shaelie Edwards (Pleasant Grove, Utah) will look to step into the top seven, as will freshman Samantha Minor (Lake Stevens, Wash.), according to Collins.

"We expect Samantha to step in right away," Collins said. "She is already looking great in workouts and has a great attitude."

On the men’s side five runners (four upperclassmen) return from last year’s national team which placed 22nd for the second straight year. This group, which includes senior and 2009 Frontier Conference Runner-of-the-Year Sean Huey (Boise, Idaho), seniors Chris McConnell (Portland, Ore.) and Jake Miller (Craig, Colo.), junior Grant Eldridge (Clackamas, Ore.) and sophomore Dave Marks (Lake Oswego, Ore.), is motivated to break through at nationals in what will be their final season together.

"The men’s team has a lot of potential this year," Collins said. "I think much of our motivation comes from the fact that we did not run as well as we should have at nationals last year. We had a couple of key injuries late in the year that hurt us, but most of those guys are back from a year ago and many are seniors that want to go out this year making a statement."

After a fourth-place finish in the 5000m at track and field nationals last spring, it is clear that Marks is one of the keys to the success of the men’s team. The three runners who finished ahead of Marks in the 5000m each placed in the top-10 at cross country nationals last fall, which point to his enormous potential.

"We and he (Marks) have high expectations for this fall," Collins said. "His personal expectations mirror those of the team."

With the strength of experienced racers and the energy of new faces, the Warriors are working to capture their fourth consecutive conference title by sweeping the 1-5 spots for the third straight year, a feat that Collins claims will be challenging in the improving Frontier Conference. Then it is on to nationals. L-C earned its highest finish at nationals in 2007 when it placed 18th, but look to make an even greater splash onto the national scene in 2010.