March 17, 2009

The University of Dayton women's cross country team will lose valuable leadership and five members of its roster to graduation this May, but the team hopes to recoup those losses this fall by adding two high school standouts.

For a team looking to build on a lot of recent success, a good amount of the core contributors return from last season's team. The 2008 Flyers finished a program-best third at the Atlantic 10 Championships, and will be bolstered by the arrival of Emily Staresinic and Marisa Slomski.

Staresinic comes to the Flyers from Mason, Ohio with a reputation as a cross country and track standout. She was part of Mason High School's Division I State Champion 4x800 relay team, and was also a four-time state qualifier in cross country during her Comet career. A strong competitor in the 800 and 1,600 meter events at Mason, Staresinic will look to make an impact with the Flyer track team in the spring as well. A devoted student, Staresinic was named to the Academic All-Ohio team for her efforts in the classroom.

Slomski, an incoming freshman from Glenbrook North High School in Illinois, will take to the course with the team next fall after earning her conference's title during her senior season. Named to the all-conference cross country team in each of her four seasons, Slomski also served as team captain during her final season. An honor roll student all four years during her high school career, Slomski was also an all-conference performer for Glenbrook North's soccer team.