2009 MCC Finish: Men: 6th out of 7; Women: 7th out of 8

Letterwinners returning/lost: Men: 4/4; Women: 2/3

Notable returners:
Men:
Jordan Letzring                  Sr.          Alta
(season best 8K 28:26; season best 6K 18:36)
Jason Morad                      Sr.           Detroit, Mich.

Women:
Jessica Bixler                     Sr.           Oskaloosa
(season best 5K 22:14)
Katie Burnett                     Sr.           Mesa, Ariz.
(season best 5K 24:01)

Notable losses:
Men:
Brandon Nicholson
(season best 8K 28:03; season best 6K 18:10)

Women:
Melissa Wink
(season best 5k 23:50)

Notable newcomers:
Men:
Nicholas Reynolds            Jr.            Riverton, Utah
Kipp Schuler                     Sr.            Haviland, Kan.
Keaton Studebaker          Fr.            Ogden, Utah

Women:
Morgan Avery                   Jr.            Minot, N.D.
Shelby Chisholm               Fr.           Port Huron, Mich.
Kyra English                     Fr.           Draper, Utah
Alvina Gilmore                  Fr.           Keams Canyon, Ariz.
Sade Myers                      Fr.           Honolulu, Hawaii
Nicole Rogge                    Fr.           Glendale, Ariz.

With only six total athletes returning on both sides, the Penn cross country programs will look to underclassmen as they seek conference crowns in 2010.

The programs, which finished toward the bottom of the Midwest Collegiate Conference races last year (men were sixth of seven and women were seventh of eight), are once again under the leadership of Head Coach Ammon Bennett, who returns for his second stint as head harrier coach at Penn. Bennett is looking forward to building the programs back into league contenders.

"I look forward to the season beginning and being competitive this season," Bennett said.

On the men's side, returner Jordan Letzring (Sr., Alta, Alta HS) looks to lead the squad after finishing 21st at the 2009 league championships. Bennett expects him to again be near the top of the MCC in his senior season.

"Jordan definitely continues to improve and will be a strong leader for the team," Bennett said.

Jason Morad (Sr., Detroit, Mich., Oakland CC), who redshirted the last two seasons, finally joins the squad and has been projected as one of the Statesmen's top runners this fall, even pushing Letzring for the top spot.

"Jason will step in as a team leader with Jordan and should be a top contender for us," Bennett said.

Tyler Johnson (Sr., Iowa Falls, Iowa Falls HS) and Donovan DeVore (Jr., Wilton, Wilton HS) give the Statesmen two more solid returning options as both have improved in their collegiate careers.

On the women's side, Jessica Bixler (Sr., Oskaloosa, Oskaloosa HS) is the program's top returner, finishing the season with the squad's fastest 5K time of 22:14 at the William Penn Invitational.

"Jessica looks to be a great ambassador for the team and should have a solid final collegiate year," Bennett said.

Katie Burnett (Sr., Mesa, Ariz., Desert Ridge HS), an All-American race walker on the track team, is also back after finishing 45th at last year's league meet with a time of 24:01.

"Katie looks to be a strong leader and a good example for the younger athletes," Bennett said.

A large number of newcomers hit the course for the men this year as well, headlined by Nicholas Reynolds (Jr., Riverton, Utah, Iowa Western CC), Kipp Schuler (Sr., Haviland, Kan., Dana), and Keaton Studebaker (Fr., Ogden, Utah, Weber HS).

Kyra English (Fr., Draper, Utah, Alta HS), Nicole Rogge (Fr., Glendale, Ariz., Apollo HS), and Paige Thill (Fr., Perry, Perry HS) top the women's newcomers list.

The men's team is rounded out by seven other freshman who will compete for a top spot, including Randy Armstrong (Fr., Eddyville, Eddyville-Blakesburg HS), Christian Damerval (Fr., Winfield, Winfield-Mount Union HS), Blake Washington (Fr., Knoxville, Knoxville HS), Cordero Watkins (Fr., Chicago, Ill., Steinmetz HS), Quintin Marshall (Fr., St. Louis, Mo., McCluer South Berkeley HS), Cameron Pittman (Fr., Carl Junction, Mo., Carl Junction HS), and Anthony Kelly (Fr., Mountain Home, Ark., Norfolk HS).

Jamie DeHeer (Fr., Knoxville, Knoxville HS) and Mayai Cobai (Fr., Altoona, Southeast Polk HS) will push the eligible runners in redshirt seasons.

Rounding out the women's roster are a half dozen more newcomers, including Morgan Avery (Jr., Minot, N.D., Iowa Western CC), Shelby Chisholm (Fr., Port Huron, Mich., Port Huron HS), Sade Myers (Fr., Honolulu, Hawaii, Radford HS), Lexi Garvey (Jr., Juneau, Alaska, Taft CC), Alvina Gilmore (Fr., Keams Canyon, Ariz., Hopi HS), and Karla Harvey (Fr., Many Farms, Ariz., Many Farms HS).

Schedule/Conference

Penn opens the 2010 campaign on August 28 at the Iowa Western CC Time Trials in Council Bluffs. The regular season culminates November 6 with the MCC Championships hosted by Ashford in Clinton.

St. Ambrose will try to defend its men's crown for the fifth year in a row, while Mount Mercy also seeks to claim its fifth title in a row on the women's side. Bennett expects both of his squads to at least compete for a spot in the top half of the conference with the ultimate goal being an MCC title and a bid to the NAIA National Championships.

"Our focus this season is on the conference meet and rebuilding the program," Bennett said. "My athletes know running is a kind of lifestyle that takes dedication and drive and they are ready for the challenge."