A pair of All-CCAA returners in seniors Matthew Prentice and Stephen Kent and two-time All-CCAA performer Amber Hebb will be looked upon as Cal Poly Pomona's leaders when the 2010 cross country season begins Saturday.

Prentice (Lake Arrowhead) opened his Bronco career in style with three top-six finishes in 2009 and earned first-team All-CCAA honors when he placed fifth at last year's event in McKinleyville. He was 16th at the NCAA West Regional.

Kent (Canyon Country) ran his best in the second half of last season, earning a fifth-place effort at UC San Diego in a 10-K race and placed 13th at the CCAAs.

Looking to improve upon their efforts from a year ago are seniors Jose Marquez (Redlands) and Jose Lara (Running Springs). Each ran inside CPP's top six and should be among the top 20 in the conference, based on where they finished at last year's event.

Marquez finished 26th and Lara 29th.

"We have some nice pieces on the men's side,'' said head coach Troy Johnson, who begins his fourth season at the helm. "I think the senior leadership is out to get to nationals. That group of four is pretty solid.''

Who steps up to fill the other top spots will be something to watch as the season progresses. Junior Michael Najera (Los Angeles) has been hampered with injuries the last few years, but has the potential to be one of the top runners in the conference. He earned a CCAA Runner of the Week honor during the 2008 season and freshman Ryan Carrell (Westminster) returns after receiving a medical redshirt last season.

"Michael's up for the challenge, and Ryan is equally as talented,'' Johnson said.

Junior Clark Selters (Claremont) is back for his third season at CPP and sophomore Christopher Lim (Orange) and the remainder of the squad is comprised of: juniors Aaron Armas (Diamond Bar/Mt. SAC), Gustavo Cruz (Chino/Mt. SAC) and Scott McMichael (La Habra/Mt. SAC). Junior Luis Briseno (Hacienda Heights) is slated to redshirt this season.

The women's team will attempt to become only the second Broncos team to reach the NCAA Finals and the first since 1985. This season, the top six NCAA West Region teams advance to the championships, hosted by Bellarmine University in Louisville, Ky., on Dec. 4.

Hebb (Alta Loma) has earned a pair of All-CCAA finishes the last two years and looks to add a third. She and sophomore Tiffany Dinh (Norwalk), who had an outstanding freshman season, will be the key components this season.

"Amber needs to be consistent with her effort,'' Johnson said. "She's run well the last two seasons. Tiffany has had an excellent preseason. She shows a lot of determination when she runs. She's a leader.''

Senior Sarah Garcia (Placentia) has been among the Broncos top five runners during her career and placed 25th at the 2009 CCAA. Sophomore Lauren Parr (El Cajon) was CPP's fifth runner at last year's CCAA, finishing 42nd.

Sophomore Johanna Murray (Azusa) returns for her second season. She competed in four events in 2009.

The Broncos welcome two transfers in juniors Cynthia Acedo (Covina/Citrus College) and Diana Zapata (Garden Grove/Santa Ana College). The freshmen are: Natasha Coe (Wrightwood), Sarah Gulli (San Francisco), Fabiola Lugo (Chino Hills), Lizette Macias (Pomona) and Jessica Mendez (West Covina).

The Broncos will play host to a regular-season meet for the first time since 2006 at the Bronco Preview Meet, to be held at Whittier Narrows on Oct. 23. Two weeks later, the CCAA meet will be held at the venue.

"Every team in our region believes that they can be inside the top six to earn the ticket to nationals,'' Johnson said about this season's NCAA West Regional. "And last year we finished fifth.''