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. 6 women’s spot in DII goes to Chico State, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Karlie Garcia (16:40; 34:47 10K; 11th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SO Haley Boynton (10:42 3K SC; 70th at ’17 NCAA XC)

JR Nora Pizzela (17:39 5K; 59th at ’16 NCAA XC)

SO Alexandria Tucker (16:57 5K; 246th at ’17 NCAA XC)

JR Kayden Carpenter (17:25 5K; 87th at ’16 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis:

The Chico State ladies received promising news about their upcoming cross country season when senior Karlie Garcia— who led the team in 11th at NCAAs last fall— was granted another year of eligibility from the NCAA. Garcia has dealt with injuries throughout her career, but for a Chico team that was facing losing its entire top four, the return of their No. 1 runner just might keep them among the best teams in the country.

First order of business will be keeping Garcia healthy enough to battle for a top-10 NCAA spot. She hasn’t competed on the track over the last two seasons, but she has managed to produce solid cross country results in back-to-back years. The Wildcats, who were fourth at nationals last season, will be counting on that trend continuing in order to fight for a podium spot.

Despite the loss of three seniors from the 2017 NCAA team, Chico State maintains a solid core of NCAA-experienced athletes to fill the gaps of the departed. Haley Boynton was 70th at NCAAs last fall as a freshman, and just wrapped up her first year by qualifying for the NCAA steeple. Junior Nora Pizzela was just 103rd in Evansville, but she’s already shown herself to be better than that with her 59th place back in 2016.

In Alexandria Tucker and Kayden Carpenter, the Wildcats have two more runners with top-50 potential at nationals. Tucker was running in 48th place up until 5k at nationals before the wheels fell off and she finished second-to-last, but a great track season—including a sub-17 5K— shows she should rebound nicely this fall. Carpenter didn’t make the nationals team in 2017, but she was 87th as a freshman two years ago.

Chico doesn’t have the luxury of depth entering this fall, as coach Gary Towne will have to count on newcomers or unproven entities should anyone in the top-five falter. The key will be Garcia, as her extra year of eligibility gives the Wildcats big hopes for 2018.

FULL RANKINGS HERE