Allegheny women's cross country will feature a nearly-entire new look in 2010 as the team positions itself for a run at its first conference championship in three years. Under the tutelage of first-year head coach Brent Wilkerson, the Gators will boast a young, but dynamic squad with great pack running potential.

It's not clear who will emerge as Allegheny's top performer, although sophomore Kelly Gallagher is poised for a leadership role after making huge strides throughout her rookie campaign. A talented and smart runner, Gallagher shifted her focus from a high school middle distance standout en route to the individual title in the 10,000m at the 2010 NCAC Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Senior co-captain Katie Stancik will be expected to reprise her role as one of the team's top harriers after finishing 11th at the 2009 NCAC Cross Country Championships. Stancik, who served the team's top miler last season, is on the cusp of breaking the 18-minute barrier in the 5k and will need to race well for the Gators to achieve their potential. Fellow classmate and captain Sam Zink enjoyed an outstanding year on the track and will also factor in considerably to the unit's success. Returning as Allegheny's top half-miler and steeplechaser, Zink, like Gallagher, has shifted her focus as a mid-distance specialist and hopes to turn that mindset into a gain for the Gators in the trails and on the hills.

Sophomore Sara Mitrano will be an intriguing watch during the upcoming year after delivering an enormous drop in time as a freshman. Virtually a non-factor for the Gators throughout the 2009 cross country season because of injury, Mitrano blossomed as a competitor during the spring and closed the year with an 18:36 in the 5k on the track. A solid summer of training has supplied the coaching staff and her teammates with a considerable amount of optimism as Mitrano primes for a break-out season. Fellow second-year harrier Hannah Serlin will have something to prove as she returns for another stint with the Gators. Missing most of the track season with the flu, Serlin scored in every meet during the fall. Senior Angela Dyer, who recorded the second-fastest 800m time on the team last year, and classmate Amber Wetzel, will deliver a boost to the young squad by providing the fledgling program with invaluable experience.