Now in the program’s fourth season since being re-established in 2006 after a 27-year hiatus, both the men’s and women’s teams have a combination of veteran runners and talented newcomers that have their coach, Chip Wilson, excited about the possibilities for the new season.

"Looking ahead to the 2009 season, I am excited because this is the hardest-working team I have ever coached at MVNU,” said Wilson, who enters his fourth season. "We are coming off an intense few weeks of training to ready ourselves for the upcoming season, and every runner is doing what they can to better themselves. It is fun to watch our runners compete against each other in practice while continuing to support their teammates. As a coach, this is the type of team that you look forward to coaching each day.”

The men’s team returns five runners from last year including their top two performers as they capped off their season with a seventh-place finish at both the American Mideast Conference meet and the National Christian College Athletic Association national meet. Senior Mark Porostosky made school history in 2008 by becoming the first runner in school history to qualify for the NAIA national meet, and for the second straight year he lowered his own school record at the Wilmington College Invitational to 26:00.4. He also finished 14th in the AMC race to earn AMC Second Team status. Senior Dustin Wine (31:34.6), junior David Clark (29:10.0), and sophomores Nate Winters (26:52.6) and Jameson Seymour (29:41.8) are also coming off successful seasons. Seniors Joe Pittinger and Kenny Alexander will join the team this year along with freshmen Mark Rednour, Anthony Lee, and Jacob Pessia.

"As we enter our fourth season, we are beginning to build some depth on both teams,” said Wilson. "Our men’s team is led by our captains, Dustin and Mark, who will become the first two athletes to come through our program as four-year runners when the season ends. These guys were members of our original team in 2006 and they are excited to finish their senior year strong as they leave their legacy behind.”

"Nate, David, and Jameson are all coming off great seasons, and I look for them to build on their experiences and make solid improvements,” Wilson added. "There are many new faces on this year’s men’s team, too. Joe and Kenny will be running for the first time as Cougars, but they are not strangers to running as they both have a running background and I have seen both guys push themselves to ensure that they have great seasons. Mark, Anthony, and Jacob also look to make an impact as freshmen on the team. I am excited for them because I know they want to do well. They are taking it all in while listening to their older teammates.”

The women’s team also returns five runners from last year for its most experienced group in the program’s four seasons back after finishing 13th at the AMC meet and 17th at the NCCAA national meet in 2008. Senior Brittany Click (28:49.0) becomes the first three-year runner for the Lady Cougars, while sophomore Caitlin Campbell (21:18.1) returns after an outstanding freshman campaign in which she led the team in every race except one. Sophomores Katelyn Felger (21:51.6), DeAnna Hardeman (24:44.6), and Nikki Yates (24:47.0) also return for a second year. They will be joined by senior Tara Patrick and freshmen Jessica Brant, Hannah Fertig, Melissa Keiser, and Bethany Parks.

"The women’s team has many new faces, but they have quickly become a very tight-knit group,” said Wilson. "Our captains, Brittany and Caitlin, both have stepped up this year and have been willing to lead this team with their actions and words and are doing a tremendous job of keeping the team close. Katelyn, Nikki, and Deanna have all been working hard to improve themselves and continue what they started as freshmen.”

"Tara has been training hard and has really committed to becoming a standout runner,” Wilson added. "Even though this is her first season as a collegiate runner, she is prepared for the challenge. The four freshmen round out the roster and are fitting in well and stepping up in their first year. Jessica has quickly become a leader on the team with her running ability. She is a natural runner who is capable of pushing herself to the next level. Hannah and Melissa both join the team after outstanding high school careers and are only beginning to see what they can accomplish as runners. They both have bright futures ahead of them if they keep working hard. Bethany is our final freshman, and despite having limited running experience is getting stronger each day as she catches on quickly.”

The teams will compete in six regular-season events this year starting with the Shawnee State Invitational. The schedule also includes the Cedarville University Friendship Invitational, the Otterbein College Invitational, the All-Ohio Invitational hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University, the Wilmington College Invitational, and the Aquinas (Mich.) College Invitational. The teams will also take part in the AMC meet and the NCCAA national meet - both hosted by Cedarville this year - and the NAIA national meet will take place in Vancouver, Washington. On the men’s side, two-time defending NAIA national champion Malone University is the preseason NAIA No. 1 pick to repeat, while NAIA national runner-up Cedarville is ranked No. 2 in the NAIA preseason poll with Malone coming in at No. 5.