With five letter winners returning for both the men's and women's squads, the Arizona cross country team looks poised to be one of the top programs in the country again in 1996.

"Lofty goals have been set for this top program," said coach Dave Murray, who is entering his 30th year as head coach of the Arizona cross country team.

Those goals include winning the conference, qualifying for the national championship and finishing in the top five.

With the high calibre of runners that the men's and women's teams possess, those high expectations are well within reach.

The men will again be led by junior Bob Keino. Keino, the younger brother of 1994 NCAA cross country championship winner and UA graduate Martin Keino, finished 11th at the championships last year. Murray said he sees Keino as a possible second or third place finisher at the championship this year.

Senior Margarito Casillas will be Arizona's number two runner. Casillas had some knee trouble during the summer, but Murray said that Casillas will have another productive year. Keino and Casillas make up one of the top one-two combinations in the country. Sophomore Jeff McLarty and senior Jon Pillow will also be big contributors to the squad.

The men's team also has a good recruiting class to boast about.

"I see about four to five new runners being added to the men's team," Murray said.

Another element that will add fire to the men's team this year is the disappointment from not making the NCAA championships last year as a team. They had finished third in one of the most competitive districts in the country and felt that they would receive an at-large bid. Being overlooked by the selection committee is still on the minds of this team.

The women will be looking to sophomore Amy Skieresz to pick up where she left off from last year. Skieresz had an incredible freshman year that saw her take second place at the NCAA championships. Senior Viola Schaffer will be the women's number two runner. Murray said he sees Schaffer as a possible top ten finisher in the championships. Skieresz and Schaffer make a combination similar to the Keino-Casillas one on the men's side. Sophomore Emily Nay, senior Tone Bratteng and junior Virginia Camacho are all returning letter winners that helped the women's team take sixth at the NCAA championships last year.

On Nov. 25, the Wildcats will host the NCAA championships at the newly renovated Randolph South Golf Course. On Oct. 19th, UA will host a Pre-NCAA Invitational at the course. The meet is required by the NCAA for a school that hosts the championships. Thirty-five to 40 of the top teams in the country are expected to compete.

The 1996 men's and women's cross country teams will get their first taste of competition on Sept. 7, when they will run at the Jammin Invitational in Brea, Calif.

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