ANDERSON, S.C. - The Anderson men's cross country team garnered four top-ten finishes last season, including an impressive third place at the Trojans' South Atlantic Conference Championship debut, and are expecting to compete for the top spot in 2011.

"I really think the guys have a legitimate shot at competing for the conference title this year," said Anderson head coach Randy Greer, "Mars Hill has dominated the league for something like 14 straight years, but we have a very good team and we would like to be the team that keeps them from getting number 15."

The 2011 edition of Trojan men's cross country features four juniors and four sophomores in addition to at least one incoming freshman that Greer is expecting to fit in the mix and contribute immediately.

One of the strengths of this year's squad is that their times very close to one another.

"We are looking for big things from all of our returners," added Greer. "Our team is very balanced. They run as a pack and any one of the guys can pace the team on any given day."

Rising sophomore Kyle Koby earned both second team all-conference and all-freshman accolades after garnering 13th at last year's SAC Championships, while teammate Parks Edwards was also named to the all-freshman team after finishing 16th. Deniz Hay nearly earned the same honor with his 18th-place finish in the championships.

Josh Visi-Clark, a native of Boynton Beach, Fla., is an incoming freshman that Greer expects will perform well at the collegiate level, saying "Josh is one of the best recruits that we've ever brought in as far as just pure times coming out of high school. I expect all of our newcomers to come in and play an important part and fit right in with the young, talented team that we had last year."

Visi-Clark consistently placed among the top finishers throughout his prep career and captured the top spot at the Foot Locker South Regional 5K in Charlotte, N.C., last November, winning by nearly a minute over his nearest competitor.

The Trojan harriers opened last season with a pair of top-ten finishes and will be visiting the same courses to start the 2011 campaign. AU claimed ninth at USC Upstate's Eye Opener, with Koby leading the effort by garnering a 36th-place finish. Anderson followed up with a seventh-place finish at Clemson's Invitational, as Koby again paced the Trojans.