Ready. Set. Race.

The women’s cross country team was ranked second in their region at the beginning of this season. After the first three races, they have slipped to fourth.

“So far it’s been the normal up and down. We’ve had a couple really nice surprises from the new runners on the team, and a few returners that have come back in very good shape,” said Malcolm Dunn, coach of both the men’s and women’s cross country teams.

Overall, the women’s team shows a lot of potential. Last year they only lost two seniors, and almost all of their top runners are returning. Incoming students are providing significant support as well. However, they have started the season with a lot of downs.

“A few injuries and illnesses have been holding us back. This is a source of frustration for the women in particular,” Dunn said.

Thus far the season and preseason have provided the women with the opportunity to get back into the groove of racing.

“It takes a couple of races to get the kinks out,” said junior co-captain Sara McCunne.

“At the beginning of every season we have to re-learn how to race again,” said junior Yasmeen Colis.

Runners and coaches alike agree that the team is on an upward trajectory and is really coming together.

“We are still dealing with little things, but for the most part we are feeling strong. Everyone is at a high level of fitness,” said Colis.

The slow start for the women will not end up affecting them as much as it would in other sports.

“The nice thing about cross country,” said Dunn, “is that the preseason doesn’t count as much. There are two races: conference and regionals: that really make or break the season.”

One of the important races is the conference meet on Saturday, Nov. 1, which takes place on Whitman’s golf course.

“The conference meet should be really fun. We already know the court, which gives us the home court advantage,” said McCunne.

Within their region, the women are competing heavily with Whitworth, which came out much stronger than expected and beat Willamette in a race earlier last month. Willamette was originally ranked first.

“Whitworth really turned the rankings upside down. For us, right now a fourth place ranking in the region is probably accurate but by the end of the season I think we will be top 3, ideally top 2. We have the capacity and talent to be top 2 in the region,” said Dunn.

The men’s and women’s top seven runners will have the opportunity to travel to Carleton, Minn., later on in the season. Carleton ranks in the top 15 in the country. The race provides the women a chance to see how they compare to a team that highly ranked.

“We are really excited to make that trip,” said Dunn.

“It’s also an opportunity to practice traveling. I think that’s a skill,” said McCunne.

“This is a really special group of women,” said Dunn. “Not only are they good at running fast, but they are really good people too. The interactions with them as people are very special and valuable. This is why I coach, for the interactions with the athletes.”

The women are certainly very dedicated to the team. Since the end of last season in November to the beginning of training at the end of August this year, the girls never stopped running.

“We have a running thread on Facebook that we use over the summer,” Colis said. “We did workouts together, except in different states.”