With a balanced collection of returning runners, Iowa State women’s cross country coach Dick Lee is excited about the opportunity to improve on last season.

The Cyclones return a strong group of upper classmen in senior Emily Martini and juniors Andrea Crapisi, Laurie Maythaler and Alienor Gilchrist.

“We have a real strong nucleus returning this season,” Lee said. “They’ve looked very good in our early work outs.”

Lee said the top four runners are all solid runners and are interchangeable at the top positions.

In addition, the Cyclones have a talented group of recruits coming in.

Gilchrist and Cripisi finished 24th and 25th, respectively, in the NCAA regional meet last season.

The team placed seventh overall.

Last season’s squad, however, battled injuries throughout the year, and Lee is hoping that the injury bug won’t bite again this season.

Maythaler, who missed most of last season after a bicycle accident, is back at full-strength this year.

“It was hard to watch everyone compete and just watch from the sidelines,” Maythaler said. “I’m definitely ready to go.”

Lee is looking for the team to improve on that seventh-place finish.

He also is shooting for a top-four finish in the Big 12 championships and the NCAA regional.

“We’re looking to use our early meets to help us get ready at the end of October,” Lee said.

Maythaler added, “We are looking for a top-two finish this year at the regionals.”

The Big 12 conference will again be a challenging conference, but Maythaler believes this year’s squad has a chance to be one of the top teams by the end of the season.

“If everyone can stay healthy, we’ll definitely give everyone in the conference a good run,” Maythaler said.

Lee, who wants his team to improve on its team finishes from last season, said one of the team’s goals this season is to be in position for making a legitimate run at making the NCAA championships.

“The more we can have our top four [runners] grouped together up front and finishing close, the better chance we’ll have for success,” Lee said.

The team make its season debut today, hosting the ISU Open at 4:30 p.m.

The meet will take place at the ISU cross country fields.

Other teams in the field include Northern Iowa, Iowa, South Dakota, Buena Vista, Northwest Missouri State and Missouri-Kansas City.