STONY BROOK, N.Y. – The Stony Brook women's cross country team open up the 2018 season Saturday when they host the Stony Brook Season Opener.
 
Stony Brook will be joined by Fordham University, Sacred Heart University, Quinnipiac University, St. Francis College and Hunter College. The women will begin their season with the 4000m at 10:30 am. 
 
Women's Preview
 
Top Returners:
 
Annika Sisson 
- 3rd in Conference Championship Fall 2017
- 1st team All Region 2017
- 1st team All Conference 2017
- 2nd America East Conference Mile Indoor
 
Tiana Guevara  
- 1st Team All Conference 2017
- 2nd America East Outdoor 1500m Championships
- 3rd America East Indoor Mile Championships
 
Alexandria Ortega     
- 1st Team All Conference 2017
- America East Champion Outdoor 5000m and 10,000m 2018
 
The women's team has two goals for the season. First, to challenge for the America East Championship, then a top 10 finish in the Regional Championships.
 
"We enter this season with the goal of reestablishing this program at the top of the America East Conference and as a top regional program, said head coach Andy Ronan. "We have the athletes in the program to achieve these goals. The squad has gotten better since last fall, many of the them improved on the track this past spring, combine that with the experience they gained competing at the championships last year, should put us in a position to attain our goals. The Defending Conference Champions UNH, will not give up the title without a fight, Albany, UMass Lowell and Vermont all have squads that can be big factors in the meet. The challenge in the regional meet will be to run a complete race and contend for a top placing, we would also like to have our top 3 athletes Annika, Tiana and Ally be in contention for an All Region placing (top 25), then maybe one or two of them could snag an individual spot at the NCAA Championships."
 
"Our first meet is one where we run less that the traditional distance, the women run 4000m. The women's team will be made up of returners Tiana and Talia Guevara, Ciara Murphy, Jillian Manfredi and freshmen Klaire Klemens, Tara Hauff, Rachel Ruggiero. The women like the men are excited to get the season up and going."
 
Saturday marks the first of two home meets for the Seawolves as they will be home again on Sept. 8 to host the Wolfie Invitational. Stony Brook will continue their training with four away meets before they head down to Mine Falls Park, N.H, as New Hampshire hosts the America East Championships on Oct. 27.