ROLLA, Mo. – With experienced rosters on both sides of the ledger, Missouri S&T cross country coach Sterling Martin has reason to be optimistic about the possibilities that exist for the Miner and Lady Miner squads as they prepare to open the 2011 season this weekend.

Missouri S&T will take part in the Bob Timmons Invitational at the University of Kansas Saturday to get their season underway and will do so with a roster that includes nine returners on the men's side and seven on the women's side – and good competition for sports on both squads with an influx of talented newcomers included.

“On the men's side, we will have 11 or 12 solid runners competing for a spot in our top seven,” Martin said. “The Great Lakes Valley Conference has some of the strongest cross country programs in the country and our goal is to become a factor within the league, which would then make us a factor at the national level.

“I believe we have the talent to make this jump; we just need to develop the attitude and confidence needed to compete at the highest level,” Martin added.

Heading the 2011 Miner squad is junior David Huskisson (Kirksville, Mo./Kirksville), who is coming off a strong sophomore season that saw him finish sixth at the GLVC Championships. Huskisson was the Miners' top runner throughout the 2010 campaign and is back healthy after missing the track season in the spring.

“David is like our Peyton Manning,” Martin said. “When he is healthy and running well, our entire team operates at a higher level and David has been working extremely hard to round himself into shape.”

The Miners are also expecting strong contributions this year from a pair of sophomores that Martin feels is ready to make a move to the next level in Jacob Tayloe (Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls) and Wynn McClellan (Jackson, Mo./Notre Dame).

“Jacob returned in tremendous shape and will surprise some people with the improvement that he has made,” Martin said. “Wynn has looked strong with each workout and has the potential to be an all-conference performer in cross country.”

S&T has just one senior on the roster this season in Aaron Viets (Excelsior Springs, Mo./Lutheran HS) – whom Martin feels can also be a significant contributor due to his work ethic and leadership – and one additional junior in Greg Gibson (Jackson, Mo./Jackson). Otherwise, the balance of the Miner roster will be made up of freshmen and sophomores this fall.

The sophomore class includes returners Brett Conway (Troy, Ill./Triad), Bill Gabler (St. Peters, Mo./St. Louis University HS), Chris Marchman (Sheridan, Ark./Sheridan) and Robert Naeger (Ste. Genevieve, Mo./Valle Catholic), while the Miners are looking for a group of freshmen to make an impact that includes Kyle Stocker (Solon, Iowa/Cedar Rapids Prairie), Stephen Andrew (Des Peres, Mo./Parkway South), Daltyn Payne (Lebanon, Mo./Lebanon), Brian Scherping (Chesterfield, Mo./DeSmet Jesuit), Danny Deposki (St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh) and Andrew Naeger.

Stocker was an all-state performer for a state championship team at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School in Iowa, while Andrew was a two-time state qualifier at Parkway South High School in St. Louis. Naeger was a two-time state qualifier as well in cross country at Valle Catholic High School in Ste. Genevieve.

On the women's side, the Lady Miners have one returning senior in Colleen Conrad (Mogadore, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary's ), who was one of the team's top runners a year ago along with Lisa Lake (Sapulpa, Okla./Sapulpa), a member of a sizeable junior class that will be looking to make a big step forward in the 2011 season.

Conrad was the Lady Miners' top runner at the NCAA Midwest Regional last fall, while Lake was S&T's top finisher at the GLVC Championships a year ago.

Lake is one of five juniors on the S&T roster this season, as she is joined by her twin sister, Mindy, who was also one of the top runners for the Lady Miners on a consistent basis a year ago, Rachel Feist (Tulsa, Okla./Jenks) and Elizabeth Hinck (Cedarburg, Wis./Living Word Lutheran). The Lady Miners are also looking for big contributions this season from sophomore Codee Pedersen (Taylor Ridge, Ill./Rockridge), who finished among the top five runners for S&T throughout the 2010 season. 

In addition, sophomores Brenda Ellis (Olathe, Kan./Olathe East) and newcomers Aimee Snell (Springfield, Mo./Glendale) and Diane Strong (Jackson, Mo./Jackson) will look to earn spots among the top seven for the Lady Miners in the upcoming year.

S&T has just two freshmen on the roster this season, Alyson Smith (Scott Air Force Base, Ill./Mascoutah) from Mascoutah High School in Illinois and Madalyn Elliott (Chesterfield, Mo./Westminster Christian Academy) from Westminster Christian Academy in St. Louis.

The Miners and Lady Miners will host one meet this season, the Jackling Jocks Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 8 at the Missouri S&T Golf Course. That meet will take place during Homecoming weekend at the university in the morning prior to the S&T football game.