Follow our 2019 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 25 cross country teams and individuals in the NCAA this season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. And, be sure to watch our LIVE FloXC Podium Reveal Show Monday, August 26th at 10 AM CT. The No. 23 women’s spot goes to Northern Arizona, and here's why:

Probable Top Seven:

SO Bryn Morley (4:22 1500; 39th at ’18 Pre-Nats XC)

SR Mikayla Malaspina (16:26 5K; 27th at ’17 Pre-Nats XC)

SR Miranda Myers (16:25 5K; 34:33 10K; 6th at ’17 Big Sky XC)

SO Taryn O’Neill (9:54 2 Mile; 174th at ’18 NCAA XC)

JR Delaney Rasmussen (4:28 1500; 51st at ’18 Pre-Nats XC)

JR Pipi Eitel (53rd at ’18 Pre-Nats XC)

SR Shannon Molvin (60th at ’18 Pre-Nats XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Taryn O’Neill via Villanova (9:54 2 Mile; 174th at ’18 NCAA XC)

Annika Reiss via Bellingham, WA (2nd at ’18 WA State XC)

Tiana Bradfield via Lafayette, CO (4:57 1600)

Elise Stearns via Missoula, MT (5th at ’18 MT State XC)

Analysis:

The Northern Arizona women have a completely revamped roster in 2019, as the team’s top two returners from 2017 XC, Mikayla Malaspina and Miranda Myers, return from redshirt seasons. Add in Bryn Morley, the younger sister of multiple-time Colorado All-American Makena Morley, who took 39th at Pre-Nats last season as a freshman before being held out the rest of the season, and Villanova transfer Taryn O’Neill, who placed 174th at NCAA XC and 15th in the Mid-Atlantic Region, and you’ve got a potential top 25 team.

Another potential contributor is Jesslyn Bries, who did not compete outdoors but led the squad at the Big Sky Conference (7th) and the Mountain Region (22nd) as a true freshman. 

Last year’s squad of majority underclassmen finished sixth in the uber-competitive Mountain Region, which ultimately made them one of the first teams not to qualify for nationals. They’ll certainly be hoping to accompany the three-time national champion men’s team to Terre Haute this year.

FULL RANKINGS HERE