ITHACA, N.Y. -- A bunch of new faces will be leading the way for the men's cross country team in 2011 as one of the more accomplished classes in Cornell harrier history has graduated.

The Class of 2011 helped set a new standard of excellence in cross country as it finished in the top three in the Ivy League in three of its four years in Ithaca and came up just short in becoming the first team since 1957 to finish that high four years in a row. Graduation took with it the top three runners from last year's team, which included two individual NCAA track qualifiers and an IC4a champion.

While that might be viewed as a huge void to fill, the men's harriers are choosing to look at it as an opportunity. With only one senior on the team, captain Chandler Kemp (Haines, Alaska), the Big Red is looking to lay the groundwork for a pursuit a year from now for it its first Ivy title since 1993.

“We've certainly got at least 10 talented and hard-working guys that want to rise the challenge,” said assistant men's coach Robert Johnson, who manages the cross country training. “Right now I like to say that we've got a bunch of talented question marks, and by season's end, we're hoping five of them turn into exclamation marks.”

The good news for fans of the Big Red is that the junior class has, for two years, been viewed as one of the more talented group of long distance runners to set foot on campus in decades. Based on high school times, the juniors are probably the fastest group in Cornell history. After playing complementary roles for two years in cross country, it's time for them to lead.

Four long-distance-oriented juniors — Brett Kelly (30:06 10000 personal best, Madison, Wis.), Bobby Micikas (14:26 5000, Wapwallopen, Pa), Matt McCullough (14:32 5000, Havertown, Pa.), and Adam Trofa (30:36 10000, Woodbridge, Conn.) — will be looking to translate the success they've enjoyed in track to cross country. Additionally, two top middle distance juniors in Nick Wade (1:49 800, North Attleboro, Mass.), the Ivy League champion at 800, and Andy Arnold (4:07 mile equivalent, Marlton, N.J), who spent the summer training in Kenya, will also look to help the cause.

The return of junior Kevin Johnson (14:29 5000, Falcon, Colo.), who as a freshmen was the first Cornell man to score in the 5000 at the Ivy championships in his rookie campaign since 1991, could really help the team if he can regain his old form. Johnson is back after missing his entire sophomore year due to two surgeries to treat compartment syndrome in his legs.

Some talented underclassmen will also be looking to contribute. Top sophomores include Gabe Heck (Madison, Wis.), who was a stalwart member of the team's top five as a freshman, and local walk-on Max Groves (Ballston Spa, N.Y.), who has been the most improved runner so far in the team's early practices.

Normally it takes a year or two for male distance runners to be strong enough to contribute, but Ben Potts (4:14 1600 in high school, sixth in New Jersey state cross country meet, Haddonfield, N.J.) comes in with stellar high school credentials and walk-on David Melly (9:20 2 mile, Newton, Mass.) has impressed in the first few practices.

Without a proven front-runner for the first time in almost a decade, the young team will be looking early in the year to run together as group and use team synergy to build momentum and confidence as it prepares for the championship meets late in the season.

The Ivy championships will certainly prove to be a huge challenge for everyone in the league not named Princeton as the Tigers return the bulk of last year's team which finished 12th in the country, the highest finish by an Ivy men's team since Dartmouth was ninth in 1989. The Tigers are ranked No. 11 in the preseason national poll.