Stepping in for KWU to replace the losses of graduated seniors Kara Walker, Shanda Anderson and Stacey Lastra will be junior college transfers Cecilia Burley (Jr., Ponca City, Okla. / Cowley CC (Kan.)) and Vivian Reed (Jr., Vail, Ariz. / Pima CC (Ariz.)) and freshman Jillian Stratman (Fr., Bennington, Kan. / Bennington HS).

"We have brought in Cecilia, Vivian and Jillian to help us fill some of the gaps opened up by graduation," KWU head coach Jeff Barker said.

Burley was one of the top runners in the NJCAA last season, finishing 21st at the NJCAA National Championships and Reed finished 22nd just one second behind Burley. Reed transferred in at the semester break last year, but was forced to redshirt due to injuries, but comes back healthy for the 2010 season.

Stratman was been a four-time Top 20 finisher at the KSHSAA Class 2A State Championships, with her best showing coming in 2008 when she finished second individually. She has been a part of three Class 2A State Championship teams (2006, 2007, 2009) while at Bennington.

She was also selected to the Third Annual Kansas Shrine Bowl All-Star Cross Country Race in July in Pittsburg. The race was held in conjunction with the 37th Annual Kansas Shrine Bowl Game and features 30 runners divided into two teams that were nominated by their respective coaches and then selected by a Shrine Bowl Committee consisting of several cross country coaches from around the state.

"Cecilia and Vivian are going to be two big stars for us," Barker said. "Add in our top returners and Jillian coming in as a freshman, we have a very strong top five."

Also returning for the Coyotes is Julina White (Sr., Hereford, Colo. / American River College (Calif.)), who struggled through injuries last season, but is back and healthy and according to Barker had a great summer.

"Julina is coming off a great track season after being hurt through a majority of cross country season," he said. "She was part of the 4x800 nationals team and ran well in the steeplechase and we are looking for her to help us greatly this fall."

Also running for the Coyotes this fall will be Tara Davis (Fr., Dallas, Texas / White HS), who was redshirted with the soccer team last season.

"Tara has had a great work ethic for us so far, and she will fit in with our group well," Barker said.

Barker also added that his team stacks up well with the rest of the NAIA on paper, something that was echoed by the Coyotes being ranked No.14 in the NAIA Preseason Top 25 poll released on August 25.

"Right now with the team we have on paper, we would have finished ninth in the country in both 2007 and 2008 at the National Championships, and last year on a muddy course in Washington, we could have finished within the top 15," he said. "Right now our goal is to be a Top 10 team by season's end. As long as we stay injury free through the year, I think it's very possible for us to achieve that goal."

Barker feels that Friends on the women's side will be KWU's greatest challenge, and there will be many opportunities to see the Falcons as both teams will be at a lot of the same meets.

On the men's side, it will be a rebuilding year in 2010. The Coyotes return just three runners from last year's team, with several runners not returning for a variety of reasons.

Headlining the returners will be Nate Mesta (Jr., Tucson, Ariz. / Morgan State (Md.)).

"Nate's goal is to finish Top 15 in the country or at worst an All-American this year," Barker said. "He wants to improve on his strengths to get ready for the track season because he has really high goals on the track."

Also returning for the Coyotes will be Jordan Evans (So., Green, Kan. / Clay Center Community HS) and Joel Wallace (Sr., Salina, Kan. / Pratt CC (Kan.)).

"We lost a lot of our top returners for a lot of reasons and that's unfortunate," Barker said. "And some of our top recruits did not want to come into a rebuilding situation, so it's something we have to deal with."

Wesleyan hosts the KCAC Men's and Women's Cross Country Championships on November 6 at Bill Burke / Indian Rock Parks in Salina. Barker feels the fact that KWU is hosting the championships will be beneficial for the Coyotes.

"More so than the course being in Salina, but just the fact that we will be in Salina and have plenty of fans there cheering for us will be the greatest advantage we can have on November 6," Barker said.