FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. – When the 2011 edition of the Northern Arizona women's distance team hits the track for the first time on Jan. 21, the squad will be looking to build off of its 2010 successes and aiming to reach new heights under the direction of Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Eric Heins. Last year, the women's team scored 34 points at the Big Sky Indoor Championships, and 30 outdoor.

With both Kortnee Burton and Haley Lawrence coming off of injuries that sidelined them for the 2010 cross country season, the distance team saw breakout campaigns from junior Lisette Michaels and sophomore Rochelle Kanuho.

"Not having (Burton and Lawrence) was almost a blessing in disguise this past year because it forced a lot of our young girls to step up and run," Heins said. "I think that is a reason that both Rochelle and Lisette had such a great year. They had to be our one-two punch and couldn't hide behind anyone else. It gave them a lot of experience and confidence. They both took their lumps their first couple of years here, but that experience going into track season should bring them momentum."

Kanuho's breakout campaign featured three top-five finishes, a victory in her first-career race and All-Big Sky honors.

When Burton and Lawrence weren't able to compete during the cross country season, it was no surprise to Heins when Michaels stepped into the top of the lineup for the Lumberjacks.

"Lisette had the benefit of last year getting better throughout the season and eventually scoring a point at the outdoor championships," Heins said. "That carried her over into the cross country season."

"That is the nice thing about distance runners," Heins said. "They have three sports and they can either do well and have momentum for the others, or do poorly and be fired up for the rest of the year."

With both Kanuho and Michaels having breakout cross country seasons, Heins is looking forward to adding both veterans, Burton and Lawrence, back into the mix in 2011.

"Even though they are both quiet and soft spoken, they work extremely hard," Heins said. "It was frustrating not having those two during cross country season, but looking back it helped our young team grow. You learn from your mistakes and you learn in athletics by doing, so these girls were forced to compete on the big stage and will help them in the track season."

For the Lumberjacks to repeat last year's success, they will have to do so without the help of four-year standout Nell Rojas. The graduated senior captured three Big Sky titles during her tenure at NAU, and advanced to the NCAA regional meet each outdoor season.

With Sacramento State having won the last two indoor championships and three outdoor, Heins is aware that in order to dethrone the Hornets, it will take a solid team effort from each member of the squad.

"You have to score a lot of points," Heins said. "You can't be settling for seventh and eighth place finishes when you can take first and second. Sacramento State has the best team all around the board, so we have to step up and take advantage of the events that some of our girls excel in. We need big points instead of small points."

On the national scene, Heins believes that Burton, Lawrence and Kanuho have what it takes to reach the NCAA Preliminary Round during the outdoor season. Burton, who came into the prelims ranked 41st overall in the 10,000-meter run, finished the year 27th overall.

"If Kortnee is healthy, she can pick up right where she left off last year," Heins said. "She is such a rhythm runner that she doesn't get carried away with what is going on in front or behind her. Hopefully she can pick up a few spots and finish in that top 12 to make it to the national finals."

A return for both Burton and Lawrence, and a continuation of success for Michaels and Kanuho, should lead the women's distance team to another solid campaign in 2011.