Brooklyn, NY---The Brooklyn College Women's Cross Country team will look to remain one of the top teams in the CUNYAC during the upcoming 2010 season. The Bulldogs will feature a mixture of five key returnees and 10 first-year runners as they aim to compete among the conference's elite teams. 

Two-time All-CUNYAC performer Joanne Mundo (Fort Hamilton / Brooklyn, NY) will head up the returning cast. Mundo, who finished 4th individually at the conference championship in both her freshman and sophomore seasons, is primed for an outstanding junior year. Mundo is the only member of the current squad that remains from the 2008 CUNYAC championship team. 

Head Coach Alex Lang is confident in his team and in his third year leader, saying, “Joanne has shown herself to be a fearless competitor and one of the top runners in this conference. She gives the team confidence and is ready for any challenge.” 

Ruth Perez (EBC Bushwick / Brooklyn, NY), Nadia Lyakhnovich (Talent Unlimited / Brooklyn, NY), Jawaria Amir (Edward R. Murrow / Brooklyn, NY) and Rosanna Hui (Edward R. Murrow / Brooklyn, NY) are each in their second seasons with the team and are all expected to improve upon their rookie campaigns. 

The list of newcomers is plentiful, while also featuring some names familiar to Brooklyn College Athletics fans as five are two-sport athletes. 

One of those two-sport athletes is Sabrina Washington (Elmira Free / Elmira, NY), a basketball player who was a track standout in high school. Washington has performed well in practices and is expected to be a key contributor to the squad. “Bree is an amazing athlete,” said Lang, who also coached her on the basketball team. 

Her teammates on the basketball team, Justine O'Callahan (Floral Park / Floral Park, NY) and Karolina Gorna (Queens Vocational / Maspeth, NY) have also been impressive and should be vital parts of the team.
 
Antoinette Brown (Bishop Kearney / Brooklyn, NY) is a member of the Bulldog softball squad, while Nicole Morone (Churchville / Rochester, NY) is a BC cheerleader. Both have shown their all-around athletic ability and should show promise in their rookie seasons on the cross country squad. 

Konika Chowdhury (John Bowne / Flushing, NY) is another first-year runner who has shown a ton of drive and potential. “Konika has been one of the best surprises of the preseason,” said Lang. “She should have a great rookie season!” 

Sabia Akbar (Bishop Kearney / Brooklyn, NY), Deana Carrington (A. Philip Randolph / New York, NY), Noelia Cilli (James Madison / Bensonhurst, NY) and Analy Ramirez (John Dewey / Brooklyn, NY) round out the group of newcomers. Each has worked hard in preseason and are projected to have solid rookie seasons. 

The team will see its first action of the year on Sunday, September 12, as they head to Van Cortlandt Park to take part in the Baruch College Invitational.  The 6K race will begin at 10 am.