Sept. 2, 2005

OXFORD, Ohio - The 2005 Miami University women's cross country team looks to win its third consecutive Dayton Flyer Invitational on Saturday in Kettering, Ohio. The Dayton Invite marks the season-opening meet for the RedHawks, and in order to three-peat, they will have to contend with four other schools--Wright State, Cincinnati, Xavier and host Dayton--from Southwest Ohio.

FLASHBACK: Last season at the Dayton Flyer Invitational, Carol Eckerly and Jennie Stoll placed second and third in their first collegiate race as Miami won its second consecutive meet at Indian Riffle Park. Tricia Frisella, Kristen Proach and Kelly Ardelean also finished in the top ten to help the RedHawks secure first place.

2004 RECAP: In 2004, Miami finished sixth in the Mid-American Conference as Carol Eckerly (seventh) and Jennie Stoll (19th) paced the RedHawks. Miami began its season by winning its first three meets--the Dayton Flyer Invitational, the Miami Invitational and the Cedarville Invitational--and the young RedHawks' squad that featured six freshman placed 12th at the Great Lakes Regional. Stoll was the top finisher (12th) at the regional meet while Eckerly was the only Miami runner to earn MAC honors (second-team) by virtue of her seventh-place finish at the conference meet.

RELOADING, NOT REBUILDING: Head coach Richard Ceronie returns his top nine runners from last season, and he did not lose any letterwinners to graduation. The RedHawks have a mixture of youth and veteran experience as five freshman and four seniors comprise Ceronie's top nine. Besides Stoll and Eckerly, Miami's sophomore class includes Tricia Frisella, Mia Fiegelist and Sarah Henize. The four member senior class includes Kelly Ardelean, Kristen Proach, Leslie McCue and Abby Reeser with Proach as the top MAC finisher (29th) from the veteran group.

ARE THEY CLARIVOYANT?: After finishing in sixth-place in the conference last season, the RedHawks were the No. 5 ranked team in the MAC Preseason Coaches Poll. Kent State was tabbed as the preseason favorite. Miami has the ability to finish higher than fifth if their two super sophomores, Carol Eckerly and Jennie Stoll can continue to improve in their second season and if Miami can get consistently higher finishes from its group of seniors. Ceronie expects Kelly Ardelean and Kristen Proach, a junior walk-on last season, to emerge in their senior seasons to provide depth behind his top two runners, Eckerly and Stoll.