LORETTO, Pa. (August 31, 2012) – The Saint Francis University women's cross country team will look to improve on a fifth place finish from a season ago.
 
The Red Flash will return four of their top seven runners from 2011, including All-NEC runner Jennifer Haffner, who placed ninth overall in the NEC Championship.
 
SFU also returns Rebecca Webster (Lithia, Fla./Newsome), one of only two seniors on the roster. Juniors Feleisha Wright (Philadelphia, Pa./Jules Mastbaum), Colleen Kelly (Altoona, Pa./Bishop Guilfoyle), and Gloria Roberts (Upper Marlboro, Md./Frederick Douglass) will all be focal points on the experienced roster. Wright led the way for the Red Flash in the Father Bede Hines Invitational last year, placing 18th overall.
 
“Our upperclassmen have come into the season very strong, ready to go, and they are anxious to get out there and move up the ranks of the NEC standings,” head coach Doug Hoover said.
 
Sophomore Kylie Jackson (Apollo, Pa./Kiski Area) will look to build on a solid freshman campaign, she finished in the top half of SFU runners in several races in 2011.
 
Saint Francis will also look for one of the newcomers to step into a top seven role. SFU lost the other All-NEC runner from last season, Sarah Grossi (Canonsburg, Pa./Canon McMillan), who finished one spot ahead of Haffner in the NEC Championship.
 
SFU was ranked fifth in the NEC preseason coaches' poll. Quinnipiac was picked to finish in first for the eighth consecutive year.
 
The Red Flash open the season this evening at the Bucknell Bison Invitational, the women will run three miles in the event.
 
The Red Flash then travel to Penn State for the Spiked Shoe Invitational on Sept. 8 and then they will compete in the 34th National Catholic Championships at Notre Dame on Sept. 14.
 
After two weeks off, the Red and White host the annual Father Bede Invitational on Sept. 29. Saint Francis will then travel to Lafayette College for the Leopard Invitational on Oct. 13.
 
The 2012 NEC Championships will be held at Bryant University on Oct. 27. Following the conference meet, the Red Flash will have almost two weeks to prepare for the Mid-Atlantic Regional meet, held at Penn State University this year.
 
If the team or any individuals qualify, the NCAA National Championship is Nov. 17 in Louisville, Kentucky.