ANDERSON, S.C. -- Anderson College head cross country coach Aaron Schaffner says his incoming group of runners will make a major impact on both programs. "We're extremely excited about the upcoming year," said Schaffner, who is entering his second season as head coach. "We're bringing in the best classes on teams since I joined the AC program as an assistant. We've got some runners coming in who will contribute immediately." Schaffner says sophomores Jennifer Hitt and Ethan Schaffner helped raise the profile which helped recruiting efforts for both programs. Hitt won the 2004 CVAC title, finished fourth in the regional meet, and participated in the NCAA Division II meet. Schaffner won two individual titles and finished fifth in the CVAC meet. "They are our two front runners," Schaffner said.""Our men's team had a decent season last year, and Hitt making it to the nationals gave us some more exposure." Hitt (So., Fountain Inn, S.C.) returns after recording six top-10 finishes as a freshman. She will be joined by one of the most talented runners in the history of cross country in South Carolina. Diana Williard (Fr., Gaston, S.C.) tied a national record by winning six state titles in high school. "Jennifer and Diana will be battling up front," Schaffner said. "Jennifer has been putting in the work this summer and is looking forward to coming back. She wants to win the conference, the region and do better at nationals. She's got three more years to go to nationals. "It was fun recruiting Diana. Winning six state championships is a great accomplishment. Hopefully, she will continue her success here. Our training philosophy was what she was looking for. But it is going to be a wake-up call for her because there are 17-minute runners and she's upper 18. She had 30 seconds on fields in high school, but she will have runners to push her here." Schaffner expects Kasey Harold (Jr., Pataskala, Ohio), Terra Michael (So., Knoxville, Tenn.), and Ashley Hughes (Jr., Chesnee, S.C.) to round out the top five. Harold had two top-20 finishes last fall, while Michael recorded one top-20 finish. Schaffner (So., Baltimore, Ohio), Aaron's younger brother, will lead the way again this fall. In Anderson's six regular-season meets in '04, Schaffner recorded five top-15 finishes. "Ethan will be a front runner, but we've got two freshmen coming in who will push him," Aaron Schaffner said. "Nate Parsons (Fr., Clifton Springs, N.Y.) and Jeremy Hunsacker (Fr., Gilbert, S.C.) will be in our top three. This will be our deepest team talent-wise. We're looking at three freshmen in the top five." The top returnees include Matt Atkinson (So., Greenwood, S.C.), Patrick Burt (Jr., Monroe, Ga.), and Jason Bryan (So., Mauldin, S.C.). Atkinson recorded two top-10 finishes in six regular-season meets. Schaffner also has added Josh Whetherholt (Fr., Baltimore, Ohio), a former high school teammate of Ethan Schaffner, to the roster. "We will be a sleeper in the CVAC," Schaffner said.""I think we can win it, and I think we've got an outside shot at nationals." For the third consecutive year, Anderson will be the host school for the CVAC Championship meets Oct. 21 at the Pine Lake Golf Club. "We're looking forward to having the home course advantage again this year," Schaffner said.""The kids really love going out there."