When the season begins Friday at Notre Dame, the ASU men's and women's cross country teams hope to improve on a successful campaign in which they both finished in the top 25 at the NCAA Championships.
The men's team marked a second-place Pac-10 finish last year, while the women's squad ended the season in third place.
"Both groups can improve on their NCAA finishes," Sun Devil head coach Walt Drenth said. "If the men are healthy, they can be in the top 10."
The statement seems very plausible for the men's team, which will rely heavily on senior Fasil Bizuneh. The two-time All-American received All-Pac-10 first-team honors in 2001.
"There are few key guys injured, but the transfers and freshmen will help a lot," Bizuneh said.
Sophomore J.J. Duke also will be looked upon to help keep the Sun Devils in the hunt. He said it will take a complete team effort.
"Everyone looks good. This year, we will be really deep," Duke said. "There will be nine to 10 good guys instead of seven or so."
This year's schedule should help ASU prepare for its big meets, which will come at the end of the season.
"Our conference performance will be a great goal, to try to be in the top three every year," Drenth said.
While the men's team appears to have more than enough leadership, the women's squad is facing a much tougher challenge.
"This team is really young," Drenth said. "There are only a couple returning veterans. We don't really know who the front people are yet."
Four of the seven Sun Devil runners that competed last year in the NCAA Championships have departed after graduating. ASU's biggest loss could be Lisa Aquilera, a two-time All-American who had a solid showing at the championship meet. The Sun Devils will instead look to their newcomers.
"Everyone is excited. It's a young team, and we are all motivated," ASU redshirt freshman Amanda Lyon said. "It's hard to say who will lead the team. Everyone has worked hard and trained the same. It will all depend on how you race."
Drenth said his runners have more depth this season than in his previous six years at the helm.
"The team is making good progress," he said. "We'll be pretty competitive. We'll have to see how the veterans have improved, and if the freshmen are qualified."
Reach the reporter at katie.crane@asu.edu.
