Expectations have never been higher for the women's cross country team and for good reason.

The team finished third at last year's NCAA championship meet and it looks like it can be even more talented from top to bottom as the 2008 season begins later today.

"This is a much better team than last year,'' said Karen Harvey (pictured left), who has just been promoted to the women's head coach. "Last year got everyone excited and that excitement continues. We’re just going to build on what we did last year.''

Easy to do when leading the way then -- and now -- is Susan Kuijken, who was third overall in 19:57.30 in the 6k race at nationals. The junior from the Netherlands is coming back from a foot injury that adversely affected her outdoor track season, but a new orthodic is helping, Harvey said.

"She's enjoying running again, but we're going to bring here along nice and slow,'' Harvey said as the team traveled to Boone, N.C.

Although Barbara Parker (sixth at nationals) has graduated and Hannah England (112th at the NCAA meet) has returned to Birmingham, Eng. for school there (which she had to or she would have lost significant credit hours), Harvey also returns sophomore Pilar McShine (70th at the NCAA), senior Lydia Willemse (127th) and former Riverview High star, junior Christina Woytalewicz (184th.) Sophomores Amanda Quick (Gaither High) and Bree-Arne McArdle are both in better condition and should add vital depth. And then FSU welcomes a stellar group of newcomers:

Senior Lesley Van Miert, a transfer from Northern Arizona where she helped the team win two Big Sky Conference titles. She was 55th at the NCAA finale and is listed on the NCAA's web site as one of five women to watch this coming season. Like Kuijken, she's from the Netherlands. Linzi Snow, a junior from England (and a friend of Hannah England's), is another impact runner. The freshmen ain't bad, either, with Kacey Gibson, who was a Foot Locker all-American, Keesha Danso-Dapaah, who was ninth at the Canadian Junior Nationals last year, and Jennifer Dunn, who won an Alabama state title last year.

"I keep telling myself, "I want everyone to be excited, butt we have to remember that it’s a long season,' '' Harvey said. "All of the stars have to line up, sometimes. It’s not just about having the most talented team. It’s about having good luck. You’ve got to have some good luck.''

Meanwhile, men's cross country coach Bob Braman, a guy who knows something about producing champions (three straight in men's outdoor track and field) is thrilled by the possibilities of his group.

"Potentially we can be very good; as good as any team I've had since I've been here,'' he said.

You won't see that this weekend, a trip that's more important as an opportunity to train in the mountains. To be at its best, FSU needs for senior Luke Gunn to win his appeal for another year of eligibility, one that is likely to be granted given the time he lost from his clock (five years to play four) to ready himself for international competition. Gunn, a two-time track all-America who nearly made Great Britain's Olympic Team earlier this summer, was FSU's top finisher in last year's NCAA cross country championship (69th, running the 10k in 30:55.00). FSU finished No. 20.

"He meets all the criteria (for the extra year) and getting that would be a huge deal,'' Braman said, adding that he would hope to hear the word on Gunn within a couple weeks, a time frame that would put him on the line for a race at the Sept. 19 Virginia Tech Invitational.

Beyond Gunn, FSU also returns three of its next top four finishers from last year's cross country finale: fifth-year senior Steeve Gabart (94th, 31:04.09), sophomore Matt Leeder (97th, 31:06.10) and junior Daniel Roberts (171st, 31:41.30).

"Steeve's one of our leaders,'' Braman said. "He was an all-American in NAIA, an all-American in junior college and he's not going to let it get by him at this level. Matt was Top 30 for Canada at the World Juniors; he's a very elite kid. And Daniel was in our top five all year last year and in track, was a regional qualifier in both the 1,500 and the 5,000.''

Then there's heralded freshman Mike Fout, the Foot Locker national champion as a high school senior. But Braman also has some talented depth, including sophomore Justin Harbor, a one-time Oregon Duck, senior Javier Cruz and junior Trey Andrews.

"We have a good chase group,'' Braman said, "and the top five (with Gunn) has that pedigree that you’ve got to have when you line up that last Monday in November.''