Last year Harvard men's cross country coach Frank Haggerty pulled in a great recruiting class.

This year he hopes to see some of the payoff.

"In cross country, the change from high school to college is great because they run longer distances," Haggerty said. "But this year I hope to see some improvement and some great things."

Still, the men's cross country team is young. Sophomore Brian Walsh is the Crimson's top returner.

Walsh finished in the top three among. Harvard runners in all five races last season. In the H-Y-P race he finished second overall, and in the Greater Boston Invitational he took ninth.

Two other top returners are captain Steve Kelts and senior Doug Lanzo. For Harvard to compete successfully this year, these two will have to provide the leadership this young squad needs.

While the men may be looking to the future, for the women the future is now.

"I am expecting real big things from the women this year," Haggerty said.

The women, who have a talented group of returners and incoming freshman, are led by senior Alais Griffin and junior Tatum Simon.

Last year, Griffin finished first among Harvard runners and eighth overall in the Championships, and qualified for the NCAA tournament.

Simon won the tri-contest with Brown and Northeastern and placed 21 in the ECACs.

Griffin and Simon, as well as senior Megan Fritschell, look to lead the Crimson over the top after last year's impressive second place finish in the league.

The Crimson seniors know that, unlike the young and inexperienced men, if Griffin and Simon want a championship this will have to be their year to run.