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LARAMIE – University of Wyoming cross-country coach Bryan Berryhill isn't shy about saying where he thinks his men's and women's teams are as the 2016 season begins this weekend.

"I think they're two different teams," Berryhill said. "The women's team is one of the best groups I've been able to work with. I think there's got to be big expectations. The men's team is coming off a really good year, one of the best years in program history, but we lost three of our top five runners. We're going to be relying on a lot of younger runners on the men's side."

The Cowgirls and Cowboys open the season with the Colorado State Invitational on Friday in Fort Collins, Colorado. It's the start of a schedule of seven meets, culminating with the Mountain West Championships on Nov. 11 in Logan, Utah. The NCAA Cross-Country Championships are Nov. 19 in Terre Haute, Indiana.

Wyoming has qualified individuals for the NCAA championship through the years, but not recently as a team for either the men or women.

That could change this fall.

The Cowgirls return a deep and talented group, including the addition of possibly their top runner.

Audra DeStefano missed most of the 2015 cross-country season with an injury and was granted a medical redshirt season. After finishing 15th in the 2014 MW Championships, DeStefano is excited to have one final chance to run for the Cowgirls.

"I'm thankful to have another opportunity for it this year," she said. "I've never been all-conference in cross-country, so I'd like to do that and hopefully advance to the national meet. We have a really competitive region, so it will be tough racing all season."

Joining DeStefano will be junior Kerry White, the top returning Cowgirl from last year's conference meet in 16th place. In fact, the Cowgirls' top five finishers from a year ago return. That group includes senior Megan Brunette (19th), junior Lauren Hamilton (22nd), and sophomores Isabelle Pape (33rd) and Kiah Leonard (43rd).

Add senior Cassidy Meade to that group and the Cowgirls have high hopes this season.

"I try to be honest with them, because if you're going to get to that next level, you can't shy away from it," Berryhill said of the expectations for the Cowgirls. "You've got to see yourself that way, you've got to see your team that way. This team definitely has the ability to get to that next level."

The Cowboys lost their top three finishers from a year ago and will be young in 2016.

The top returning finisher is former Laramie standout Jonah Henry. The UW junior was 20th at last year's conference meet and will lead the young group early on.

"Right now, I'm the fastest returning runner on the team from last year, so a lot of it will be on me to train the younger kids and keep everyone on target," Henry said. "I hope to make everyone better and still place well at conference and regions as a team."

Added Berryhill on Henry: "We had big expectations out of high school, and he had big expectations as well, and I think he's really starting to fall into those expectations. He's gotten a little better each year, which ideally is what you want."

Sophomore Ricky Faure was just behind Henry in last season's conference meet in 28th place and should help give the Cowboys a solid 1-2 punch at the top of the order. Depth will be the biggest issue with the men's team.

"There's a lot more unknowns on the men's side," Berryhill said. "We were fourth last year, and to be honest, I'd look to hope to finish right around there again because there will likely be three teams nationally ranked in the top three spots. If we can hold that spot while these kids get older and learn, I'd be OK with that."

Senior Mike Seas will likely help fill in some of the missing depth, and Berryhill is excited by the addition of incoming Australian freshmen Daniel Hintz and Harry Ewing, as well as a large redshirt freshman group.