With a strong finish last season and an even stronger returning core group of runners this year, the men's cross country team was ranked No. 1 in New England in a preseason poll selected by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.The squad finished the 2009 season ranked fourth in the region after finishing 28th out of 32 teams at the 2009 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships.

Co-captain Paul Norton '11, a 2009 All-American who finished third at the New England Regional Championships and seventh at Nationals, will help lead the team for another year.

"[Norton is] one of the very best in the country and should be challenging for the national title," said Coach John Evans.

Chris Brown '12 and Marc Boutin '12 return to the team as well. The two placed 117th and 136th at Nationals last season.

Norton commented on their progress as runners over their careers at Brandeis.

"[Brown and Boutin] are a lot more experienced and confident," Norton said. "They're on the cusp of being some of the best in the country."

Norton also expects big things from Devon Holgate '11, who finished fourth on the team at Nationals in his first cross-country season.

"[Holgate] was a consistent scorer last season, and now that he has a season under his belt, he will know what to expect, and he'll definitely be better," said Norton.

Kerwin Vega '11 was the final scorer at Nationals last year, and Evans predicts a big season for him as well.

"[Vega has] put in the training, and he will do really well this year," Evans said.

Ben Bray '11 and co-captain Dan Anastos '11 and also ran in Nationals, but they did not score. Both were routinely among the top seven for the Judges last season, and Bray cracked the top five at regionals.

In addition to returning the team's top seven, the men's squad will feature three new runners, including Alex Kramer '13, who missed last year's cross country season due to injury. Kramer finished third in the 3,000-meter race at the UAA Indoor Track and Field Championships last season and is primed to be one of the team's top runners this year.

The team will also welcome two first-years Ed Colvin and Taylor Dundas.

"There's not a lot of pressure on either of them, but they both can play a big part of the team," Evans said.

With so many runners returning, the depth of the team will be an essential part of their success.

"We have a really deep team," said teammate Michal Dichter '13. "We have a solid top five and really good people behind them as well."

Though the team is excited about its ranking, the members realize that high preseason expectations does not automatically translate into a winning and successful season.

"We're all pretty psyched, but we still have a lot of work to do," said Dichter.

The women's cross country team will again be paced by Grayce Selig '11. Since being the team's lone representative at the NCAA Championships a year ago, Selig has etched her place as one of the top female distance runners in Brandeis history.

She broke the school records in both the 1,500-meter and one-mile events and was the third leg in the quartet that set a Brandeis record in the 4x800-meter relay race.

Selig was named an all-American twice, once as the anchor leg in the bronze medal distance medley relay team at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships, and the other in the 1,500-meter event after finishing fourth at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

"[Selig] is a totally different runner than she was this time last year," Evans said. "She will be challenging for the regional title this season. She showed that on the track, and she will show that in cross country."

All-New England runner Alyssa Pisarik '12 also returns to the sqaud. She finished 32nd at regionals last season.

The team is bringing in three first-years to replace the outgoing senior class. Despite the new faces, the women's team will have just 11 runners on the roster, a fact that does not concern Evans.

"Even though it's only 11 girls, it's all quality," he said. "We got strong years from a bunch of them, and they're going to be top runners this year. Our goal is to finish top five in the region, and this squad is capable of achieving that."

The women's team will face Southern Maine University at 3 p.m., while the men will host an Alumni meet at Weston High School Friday at 3 p.m.