CLINTON, Iowa - A new home course and a handful or newcomers have the Ashford University women's cross country team staged to continue their quest to reach the top of the Midwest Collegiate Conference totem pole.

A predominately young squad mixed in with only a trio of returning athletes may not be overpowering, but it doesn't necessarily mean that progress hasn't already been made.

"Our team is twice as good as last year's program and I don't think we have a sure thing front-runner on the team at this point, it's that close," said AU Head Coach Tyson Graham. "The women's team is still very young but unlike last season, there is a lot of high school experience that hopefully translates over to the college course."

Sophomore Nkemdilim Okwumabua returns to the trails after a stellar freshman campaign. After placing 26th overall at the MCC meet last season, she used the success from cross country to put together an even better track & field resume. A four-time All-MCC selection throughout the indoor and outdoor seasons, Okwumbua broke a total of 12 AU school records during her freshman campaign while also competing at the NAIA Indoor National Track and Field Championships, where she placed 16th overall in the 600-meter run.

Graham is confident that Okwumabua will continue her recent success trend and beginning seeing similar success on the cross country trails.

"I expect big things from Nkemdilim this year," he said of his star sophomore. "With teammates to push her and a season under her belt, I expect significant drops in times from last season for her."

Fellow sophomore Ashley Murray and senior Olivia Canales will also attempt to build off of last year's successful from the cross country and track & field squads.

"We will rely a lot on Kemi and Ashley - returners from last year that consistently ran towards the front of the pack," said Graham. "Kemi has the experience and leadership that will play a very important role and Murray can teach the ropes to on our young squad."

The AU women's cross country team will also welcome four new runners to the roster for this season, all of whom could have an immediate impact on Ashford's lineup and the returning group. Freshman Peyton Pachucki, Ann Chezem, Caitlin Kuehn and Jessica Windett each bring a high level of success from the prep level.

Chezem will also bring state meet experience to this year's squad, having helped the 4x800 and 4x400-meter relay teams at Plainfield South High School qualify for the Illinois state track and field meet last spring. She is expected to contribute immediately, as Graham considers her one of the favorites for the squad's number one runner.

Windett, Kuehn and Pachucki, will also collectively compete for the top spot, each having prior success that will help them this season, as each of them advanced to the sectional and state meets during their high school careers.

The Saints begin the 2010 season on Aug. 28 at the Seventh Annual Harper Hawks Invitational, hosted by Harper College in Palatine, Ill. After three highly-competitive meets that feature NCAA Div. I competition, including the Iowa Intercollegiate Championships at Iowa State University, Ashford will host its first-ever cross country event on Oct. 9. The Saints will run at the St. Ambrose University Invitational in Bettendorf before hosting MCC meet in early November.

The cross country season will close on Nov. 20 with the NAIA National Cross Country Championships, hosted again this year in Vancouver, Wash.