“If we can get someone who is a minute faster, then we could be a really solid team,” Irvin said. “Everyone but Heather Abernethy [senior jounalism student] is returning, and we have a lot of girls that can contribute. We should be able to move to the upper-third of our conference and be well over .500.”

On the men’s side, Irvin wants to add more depth to the team. Irvin is losing seniors Alan Nascone, Mike Simpson and Eric Davidow next year, and he wants to make sure that he is able to get quality runners to replace them.

“We need depth more than anything,” Irvin said. “Losing those three guys is tough. We have two guys transferring in, and I’m going after a junior college kid who could be a number one runner.”

The men need the new recruits to step in and produce immediately. The team consistently finished near the bottom during meets this year. The Pioneers finished last in their final three meets during the season. Irvin hopes that the new recruits can come and improve the team.

“These recruits are going to really help us,” Irvin said. “We hope to get some really strong runners so that we can improve. If they can come in and produce, that would be great.”