ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan University men's cross country team opened its season by finishing first out of 10 teams at the Hamilton College Short Course Invitational on Sept. 9. It was the first, of what the Redhawks hope, is many highlights this season.

Roberts returns its top five runners from last season's East Coast Conference championship team and the Redhawks are hoping for strong showings at the NCAA Division II East Regionals and beyond this season.

"We have some big goals this season and we are pulling out all of the stops to see how far we can go this season," said Andrew Dorr, Roberts' Director of Cross Country and Track and Field. "We know that there are some risks involved with that, but we are committed to our process this season.

Roberts was chosen to finish first in its conference this season and was ranked second in the NCAA Division II Cross Country East Region preseason poll.

Here are five things to know about the Redhawks:

WHO ARE THE BIG FIVE?

Seniors Blake Kasper and Owen White, juniors Jackson Doran and Zachary Hall and graduate student Ryan Karker make up Roberts' top five runners.

They took the first five places as Roberts won its eighth consecutive ECC title last fall and each is coming off a strong outdoor track season that saw them set personal records in the spring.

Kasper was named the ECC's Cross Country Runner of the Week after his performance at the Hamilton race.

"They may be the best top five that we have ever had," Dorr said in the preseason.

WHAT DOES THE PROCESS ENTAIL?

Basically, sticking to a plan so that the Redhawks are able to make steady progress so they are racing their best at the end of the season.

"I think that the key in the long run is to build strength over time," Dorr said.

This also means that Roberts' first five are not scheduled to compete in the Harry F. Anderson Invitational at Homecoming this weekend. They are expected to go all out at the Live in Lou Classic in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 30.

WHO ARE SOME OTHER REDHAWKS RUNNERS TO WATCH?

Senior Theodore Pintabona finished sixth for Roberts (44^th overall) at Hamilton. Juniors Jaxon Bunting (45^th overall) and Landon Schreib (55^th overall) provide solid depth.

WHO ARE SOME OF THE NEW FACES ON THE TEAM THIS SEASON?

Roberts welcomes five first-year runners to the men's program – Micah Barber, Caleb Belanger, Vincent Ciraolo, Daniel Hernandez and Matthew Rizzo.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER BIG MEETS?

In addition to the Live in Lou Classic, Roberts will host the ECC Championships on Oct. 21. The NCAA Division II East Regional championships are in New Hampshire on Nov. 4, followed by the NCAA Division II National Championships in Joplin, Mo., on Nov. 18.