By Aaron KrautStaff writer For a young Terrapin cross country team trying to prove itself within the conference, the goal is clear and simple.”Our main focus is for our kids to be ready for Oct. 27, the ACC championships at Virginia,” said head coach Andrew Valmon. “We have a very good team on the women’s side and a very young team on the men’s side.”Discovering who can perform at a high level and who will fill which roles is a point of emphasis for a women’s team with only one senior runner and a men’s squad with none this season. The relatively inexperienced group will have four meets, at Mount St. Mary’s, Navy, George Mason and Penn State, to prepare for the crucial ACC meet.The women’s team will be led by senior Meghan Braffet, who finished 28th overall at the ACC championships as a sophomore and 29th overall at NCAA regionals as a junior. Sophomores Erin Matyus, Kristin Reed, Christina Nelson and Lindsay Ritchings will provide support along with junior Kylynn McKinley and redshirt freshman Danielle Karagannis, who are both returning from injury. Junior Melissa Mark, who competed in the 800-meter last season, will also join the team.Junior Josh Davis will lead the men’s side and along with sophomores Greg Kelsey and Kevin Gahr will form a solid three-man core group.Also joining the mix this season will be new assistant coach Terry Weir, who carries with him an impressive resume from his days as a track star at South Alabama and a track coach at American University, where his men’s cross country team won five consecutive Patriot League titles. Other than finding consistency, the team will look to come together as the season progresses and as Oct. 27 approaches.As Valmon puts it, “the idea is that we need these kids to gel together, and by then we could have a really good team.”Contact reporter Aaron Kraut at sports@dbk.umd.edu.