Head women’s cross country coach Karen Harvey said she has a very good feeling about this year’s season, even though it’s still early.

Her team competes today in the three-kilometer Hawkeye Invitational against Northern Illinois, Illinois State and Iowa.

“The race isn’t very far, but it’s a chance for some of the developing runners to get their confidence up, and to get in uniform before the home meet,” Harvey said. “It’s low-key, but it’s good experience for people.”

Traveling to Iowa for the race are five freshmen and a sophomore transfer. Impressing Harvey with their workouts are freshmen Katie Engel and Liz Mengyan, while sophomore Katie Coppin is another suprise in the early season.

Harvey said Coppin was not even close to being in the top-nine last year, but now she believes she’s top-five caliber.

This race, Harvey said, will be about running hard for 10 minutes.

“I’ve been telling them, they need to get out and bang right away,” she said. “It will be interesting to see if they listen to me.”

Harvey has a number of goals she hopes her team will accomplish this season, and says that her team shares them with her.

“We look good; we’re better than last year, and that’s without Jaime Turilli,” Harvey said.

Last season as a senior, Turrelli earned first-team All-Big Ten honors and finished 35th at the 2004 NCAA Championships.

The long-term goal for Illinois is to win NCAA regionals and automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships on Nov. 21 in Terre Haute, Ind.

Right now, Harvey’s team is looking to better its 20th-place finish from a year ago, and challenge Michigan and Indiana to win Big Ten’s.

“We are very close, and it’s going to be tight,” she said. “It’s about those kids showing up on that day.”