ANDERSON, S.C. - First-year Anderson University head cross country coach Kevin Licht will rely on a seasoned core of veterans, as the Trojans look to remain in the upper echelon of the South Atlantic Conference in 2015.

The Trojan women have finished no lower than fourth since winning back-to-back SAC Championships in 2010 and 2011, while the men claimed second place two years ago and finished third in the highly competitive SAC last season.

Experience and depth will be strengths for Licht's squads, as the combined rosters feature more than a dozen returning letterwinners, including nine juniors and five sophomores who will be returning for another campaign after posting impressive outings a year ago.

The women's squad boasts three Second-Team All-Conference performers, including SAC Freshman of the Year, Haylee Love, along with sophomore Alex Dixon and junior Olivia Gardner. The talented trio combined to lead the Trojans on seven occasions a year ago, with Love becoming just the second newcomer in school history to earn SAC Freshman of the Year honors, after Lydia Davis earned the honor in 2010.

After a stellar freshman campaign in 2013 that saw Gardner pace the Trojans in four meets, the Tarpon Springs, Fla., native led the balanced AU squad three times last season, including a career-best time of 18:29.6 at the Royals Challenge. Dixon paced the Trojan effort at both the 49er Invitational and the Royals Twilight in Charlotte a year ago.

The Trojans have experienced success in the Queen City, with junior Grace Gerlock capturing 18th at last year's Royals Twilight in Charlotte. Three runners posted career-best efforts a season ago at the Royals Challenge, as Bari Robinson, Amber Worthy and Taylor Morris finished 10th, 15th and 26th, respectively.

Mia Swiersz and Allison Halperin later notched a personal-best times at the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational, with Swiersz capturing the 17th spot and Halperin claiming 19th.

Buoyed by the return of Second-Team All-SAC performer Mason Hazel, who made an immediate impact a year ago, the men's squad features five returnees.

Hazel, was the top freshman finisher at last year's NCAA Southeast Regional in Montevallo, Ala., led the Trojans on three occasions, including an 11th-place finish in a time of 16:10.8 at the Royals Twilight meet in Charlotte.

With veterans Ben Boerma, Michael Burch, Ned Kennedy and Jesse Patrick returning for their junior campaigns, depth will be a strength of the men's team, as well. Boerma led the Trojans with a 10th-place finish at the Royals Twilight meet, while Patrick claimed 23rd and Burch crossed the line in 39th place. Kennedy posted a season-best 31st -place finish at the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational.

The Trojans are scheduled to sandwich a pair of trips to Charlotte around an appearance at Furman's Cross Country Classic in September, while closing the month by previewing the NCAA Regional at Wingate's Bulldog Stampede.

Following the Royals Challenge on Oct. 9, AU will contend for its third overall women's SAC title and first-ever men's championship on Oct. 24, while the NCAA Southeast Regionals are slated for the first weekend in November.