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. 9 women’s spot in DIII goes to Wheaton (Ill.), and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SO Hannah Roeske (10:23 3K SC; 16:47 5K; 21st at ‘17 NCAA XC)

SR Aryn Embretson (17:43 5K; 35:59 10K; 80th at ‘17 NCAA XC)

SR Megan Bailey (17:55 5K; 198th at ‘17 NCAA XC)

SR Ellie Hawthorne (10:43 3K SC; 17:59 5K; 236th at ‘17 NCAA XC)

SR Laura Barnes (246th at ‘17 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis:

After notching their best NCAA finish since 1999 last season (15th), the Thunder of Wheaton (Ill.) College are well-positioned to make even more noise in 2018. 

Coach David Walford’s squad is headlined by one of the brightest stars in Division III, sophomore Hannah Roeske, who garnered five All-American honors between XC, indoor, and outdoor in a spectacular freshman campaign. If Roeske progresses even further up the D3 ladder this season and her teammates improve as well, Wheaton will almost certainly earn their first-ever top 10 finish at nationals.

The Thunder bring back five of their top seven from a year ago, including three of their NCAA scorers. Roeske will anchor the team, but improvements from the four seniors behind her will be even more crucial for the team’s top 10 chances. Aryn Embretson will lead that charge behind Roeske, and she looks primed for a breakout after lowering her 10K PR by nearly two minutes and qualifying for outdoor nationals for the first time. A good day in November could have her join Roeske on the All-American podium.

The good news about the rest of the top five is that they all have NCAA experience, but each finished well back in 2017 and will need to perform better this time around to help the team to a higher finish. But improvements for each of Megan Bailey, Ellie Hawthorne, and Laura Barnes have already become evident; all had the best track seasons to date in the spring and will look to carry that momentum to the grass this fall.

FULL RANKINGS HERE