Embarking on her first season as the Head Cross Country Coach at Bluffton University, Karen Brandt is excited about the opportunity to work with her athletes and lay the foundation for success in the classroom and on the course.

With five runners for the men and six for the women, Coach Brandt's primary goal is to build a solid program based on both academic and athletic success.

"I am confident that we will see improvements by each athlete individually and as a team," stated Coach Brandt. "The returners are looking forward to getting back on campus and competing this Fall."

One of the team goals is to be competitive in the Heartland Conference and increasing depth is an important building block in that process. As Coach Brandt continues to add members to her program, consistency and dedication are also valuable pieces of the puzzle.

With just two seniors on the roster for 2011, Coach Brandt is counting on Andy Chaffee (Clarkston, MI/Clarkston) and Heather Smith (Elkhart, IN/Concord) to step forward as leaders and set the bar for success. They have the opportunity to mentor the underclassmen, pushing them to put in the time and effort needed to build a successful program.

Juniors Alison Janzen (Whitewater, KS/Remington) and Katy Heffner (Troy) lead a solid core of returners that includes sophomores Lyndsey Darrow (Pioneer/North Central) and Ashley Hiller (New Philadelphia/Tuscarawas Valley). Brandi Dominique (Wauseon) competed in the mid-distance events for the track and field team as a freshman.

On the men's side, juniors Chris Arnold (Fort Wayne, IN/Canterbury) and Jeremy Kidder (New Carlisle/Tecumseh) will provide leadership to two freshmen for the Beavers in 2011. Michael Gray (Ulysses, PA/North Potter) and Ryan Schadewald (Lima/Bath) both debut for Bluffton in September.

The Beavers open up their season with a trip to Anderson University on Thursday, September 1 before a meet at long-time rival Defiance College on September 10. Bluffton also competes at Otterbein, Cedarville and Oberlin before returning to Anderson for the HCAC Championships on October 29.