After the women placed third and the men placed sixth in the KCAC last season, the goal is simple for second year head coach Aaron Davis and first year assistant coach Felecia Simms, a 2006 alum.

"To keep marching up the ranks of the KCAC until we are on top," he said.

The squads are also focusing on doing their individual parts in order to ultimately benefit the team. "Individual improvement; that is always our focus," Davis said. "Everyone working hard, everyone improving, everyone helping the team."

The Swede women have some work cut out for them after their success last year. Saying they lost an important individual in former indoor and outdoor shot put national champion, a two-time runner-up, and six-time All-American Jessica Becker would be, simply put, an understatement.

"You can't ever replace a Jessica Becker," said Davis. "As a competitor, you can't find a better one. Her work ethic has definitely left a mark here at Bethany. She has shown the road one must take to reach the ultimate success in our sport, which is a National Championship. Of course she will be missed!"

However, the squad returns several key pieces to the puzzle. 2009 national qualifiers senior Amber Dunham and sophomore Mollie Dahl as well as four All-KCAC athletes are back.

"Dahl has been working extremely hard in the off-season," Davis said, "and is looking to improve drastically on her PR's from 2009. Molly McElgunn, an All-KCAC athlete, will be much stronger this year (in the sprints). (Senior) Gilda Alvarez and (sophomores) Shane Valdez and Courtney Gallardo, all All-KCAC athletes, have been diehards as well when it comes to off season workouts and should have a strong year."

The Bethany women are also highlighted by several incoming players Davis expects to make an impact. The squad welcomes the cross country duo of freshman Janeeka Montgomery and junior Kate Dibbern. After Montgomery earned All-KCAC honors and Dibbern was named honorable mention, Davis expects both to make an impact on the track side. He also recruited another transfer and freshman, anticipating big things from both.

"Jackie Rogers, a transfer from Cloud County and a conference and Regional NJCAA Champion, will be a great addition to our already national caliber throws team," said Davis. "Meranda Encinias is a freshman sprinter that will make an impact in any of the sprint events and will threaten to take down multiple school records this year."

Other powerful incomers include freshmen Sara Newell in the Javelin, Taryn Kippes in the Jumps, Ashley Liddell in the Hurdle events, Heidi Brown and Sarah Johnson in the Throws, Nikki Gamberg in the Sprints and Jordan Lillie in the Pole Vault.

On the men's side, despite key losses of Nhial Malia, who Davis calls "a strong competitor for us last year in the distance events and will be missed" as well as All-KCAC athletes James Bowden and Caleb Svaty, the Swedes return numerous athletes.

"Key men returnees this year will be highlighted by (junior) Ira Autrey, Jr., who was the national runner-up in the Long Jump last year," Davis said. "He has been working very hard and doesn't like the title runner-up, so he will be very motivated this year."

Junior Nick O'Loughlin, a 2009 All-KCAC selection, will be a strong player to watch for. "I can count on one hand how many days he has missed in training this year," said Davis. "To say he is fit is an understatement. He will be fun to watch this year."

Senior Hugo Escobar returns as a crucial leader from last year. Sophomore Ty Bieker is back after being the freshman anchor to the KCAC 4x4 team from 2009. Davis also expects sophomore Josh Snider and senior Jorge Escobar to "make impacts on the mid-distance side" and feels sophomores Brian Vanorsby and DeWayne Autrey and junior Jesse Muntz "have made big strides in the off-season and should make an impact at the national level."

In addition to a solid core of returning athletes, the Swede men have brought in significant incomers in junior John Zamora, sophomore Derek Odell, and freshman Dominic Yegon.

"John Zamora, a transfer from Colby Community College, will be very dangerous this year," said Davis. "He scares me how fast he has adapted to our system here. Derek Odell will be a scorer for us come outdoor and is a very hard worker. Dominic Yegon will also be a strong runner for us in the 800m, who already comes in with a 1:55 in the 800m up at altitude."

With countless returnees and numerous impact newcomers heading the roster for both the Bethany men and women's indoor track and field teams, Davis has high expectations in mind.

"My expectation is to continue what we started," he said. "We have started a culture to improve athletically, day by day. Being from a small college, my athletes know we are the "little kids on the block" when we travel to Texas Tech, K-State, KU, Nebraska, and OU to compete. Yet they work extremely hard and have little chips on their shoulders. They are fighters - that's what I expect!"

The Swedes kick off their season on Friday and Saturday, December 11-12 as they head to the Kansas State University Multi/Invite.