Follow our 2019 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 10 cross country teams in NCAA DII/DIII this season. The 2019 NCAA Cross Country Championships will be LIVE on FloTrack for all three divisions. And be sure to watch our LIVE FloXC Podium Reveal Show Monday, Aug. 26, at 10 AM CT. The No. 10 DII women’s spot goes to Western Colorado and here's why:

Projected Top Five:

JR Bailey Sharon (2:07 800; 4:37 1500; 34th at ‘18 NCAA XC)

JR Malindi Congour (73rd at ‘18 NCAA XC)

SR Sarah Laverty (35:35 10K) 

JR Alizabeth Williams (219th at ‘17 NCAA XC)

FR Alexa Rodriguez (5:03 1600; 10:39 3200)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Alexa Rodriguez via Laredo, TX (5:03 1600; 10:39 3200)

Alexia Thiros via San Francisco St. (4th at '19 RMAC Outdoor 10K)

Analysis: 

The 2019 Lady Mountaineers will have a new look this season after graduating three All-Americans and losing another to transfer. A podium finish was always going to be tough to replicate after the eligibility ended for nine-time national champion Alicja Konieczek, but the departure of her younger sister, Aneta, to Oregon has set Western’s rebuild back even further.

Such turnover means that head coach Jennifer Michel’s squad may not contend for a national title like they did a year ago when they placed fourth in Pittsburgh, but WCU will still trot out a competitive, albeit less accomplished, roster. Leading the charge will be junior Bailey Sharon, an 800m runner who had the best cross country race of her life last December to finish 34th at nationals. Sharon building on that success will be crucial for the Mountaineers to crack the top 10 in 2019.

Similar to Sharon, Malindi Congour will hope to build on a great NCAA race in 2018 as she steps into a more prominent role this season. She was 73rd as a sophomore last year. Congour and Sharon are the lone women who return from last year’s nationals team, which means the three other scorers behind them will have to quickly get caught up to speed.

New Mexico transfer Sarah Laverty, junior Alizabeth Williams, and true freshman Alexa Rodriguez are the top candidates to fill out the rest of the top five. Laverty owns a 35:35 10K PB that shows great cross country potential, while Texas prep Rodriguez should contribute right away with strong high school credentials (5:03/10:39 PBs).

It’s a new era in Gunnison, but an established history of success suggests it won’t be long before Western is back battling for national titles once more.

FULL RANKINGS HERE