Staten Island, NY - The Wagner women's cross country team kicks off 2010 with a renewed optimism following a tough season in 2009. Joe Stasi's Seahawks are led by three returning sophomores while welcoming three highly regarded freshmen.

Leading the way for Wagner will be the sophomore duo of Taylor Fredrickson (Staten Island, NY / Tottenville) and Kelly Dennis (Staten Island, NY / St. John Villa). Fredrickson paced the Green & White in each of her first five competitions while notching season-best 5K time of 19:59.5 at the Quinnipiac Invitational. She was second on the team and 64th at the 5K Northeast Conference (NEC) Championships in a team of 21:25.7. Dennis placed second on the squad in each of her first four collegiate races before finishing first on the team and 56th at the NEC Championships in a time of 21:00.3.

Rounding out the returners is classmate Dominique Serpe (Staten Island, NY / Notre Dame Academy), who competed in all six races for the Green & White a year ago. She posted a season-best 5K time of 22:22.8 at the Quinnipiac Invitational.

Looking to bolster the Seahawk unit is the arrival of freshmen Alexis Bivona (Staten Island, NY / St. John Villa), Cameo Kirk (Ocean Port, NJ / Shore Regional) and Samantha Lauro (Staten Island, NY / St. John Villa).

Wagner begins its quest for the program's first-ever NEC title at 9:45 am on Saturday, September 4 at the Monmouth XC Kick-Off.