The ISU women’s cross country team is gearing up for the start of the season with many returning faces and a few new ones.

One familiar face expected to lead the team is that of Lisa Koll. Koll returns for her junior year and third season on the cross country team.

After coming off a successful season last year in which she placed 36th in the NCAA Championships, she still maintains high hopes and expects further improvement for herself and the team this season.

“Last year I wasn’t sure what was going to happen,” Koll said, “but now I’ve prepared myself physically and mentally to become one of the top runners in the nation and do really well this season.”

Not only is Koll confident in herself, she is very confident in her team.

“I think a lot of returning runners have stepped up the training this summer as I have too, which will really continue to help,” Koll said. “Top 10 in Nationals is a high goal, but honestly I feel our team can do anything this year.”

Although Iowa State lost only two runners from last year’s team, there are some noticeably new faces on the cross country team this year.

The most apparent change is that of new coach Corey Ihmels, who previously only coached the men’s cross country team at Iowa State, but now takes on a new task and replaces former women’s coach Dick Lee.

“I am definitely very excited to have an opportunity like this, to work with such a great team and a great university that has so much support from its fans and the surrounding community,” Ihmels said.

Ihmels also brings with him new assistant coaches Ronnie Williams, John Dagata, Blake Boldon and Melissa Stoll.

“I’m really excited to get my new staff down here and to get them working and interacting with the team so we can get things going for this season,” Ihmels said.

Along with the new additions in the coaching staff, the team also brings some promising new runners to its team this season.

One newcomer this summer is Grace Kemmey, a junior transfer from California who has been training this summer with Koll.

“I am just really excited to be a part of this team,” Kemmey said.

“I know I will have to step it up and work harder, and training with Lisa [Koll] this summer has helped and I really think is going to pay off for this season.”

Kemmey is eager to begin the new season, and has nothing but high hopes for her team and the goals they have set this season.

“As a team, we talked about being sixth at conference and I believe we can do that,” Kemmey said. “We have the potential to do great this season. I can’t wait.”