Follow our 2018 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top cross country teams in the NCAA this season, which will be LIVE on FloTrack. The No. 10 women’s spot in DIII goes to Trinity (Tex.), and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Molly McCullough (10:41 3K SC; 17:54 5K; 38th at ‘17 NCAA XC)

JR Laura Taylor (17:44 5K; 57th at ‘17 NCAA XC)

JR Brianna Ratliff (211th at ‘17 NCAA XC)

SO Jordan Juran (250th at ‘17 NCAA XC)

SR Alison Hill (4:58 1500)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis:

Trinity’s 16th place showing at nationals last year-- their first trip to the Big Dance since 2013-- was their best NCAA finish so far in head coach Emily Daum’s five-year tenure. Fresh off that positive step, the Tigers return three of their top four from last season, including All-American Molly McCullough and 57th place finisher Laura Taylor. With that, 2018 is on course to be Trinity’s best season since their sixth place finish from 10 years ago.

McCullough’s 38th place showing last November was just the third All-American finish in school history, and the first since 2009. Coming off the best track season of her career (she was ninth in the NCAA steeple final), McCullough seems certain to move up even further in the cross country pack. Her trusty No. 2, junior Laura Taylor, didn’t have quite as strong of a track season as McCullough, but she’s nails on the grass; Taylor won the conference title last fall over her All-American teammate.

The Tigers will have to see improvements from their No. 3 through 5 runners to break into the top 10. The good news is that Brianna Ratliff and Jordan Juran add even more NCAA Championship experience to the roster, and should be better this year in their second crack at the national meet. McCullough and Taylor will carry this team, but their teammates behind them will determine how high up the leaderboard the squad goes in November.

FULL RANKINGS HERE