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. The No. 2 DIII men’s spot goes to Wartburg, and here's why:

Projected Top Five:

JR Sam Pinkowski (4:10 Mile; 14:25 5K; 27th at ‘18 NCAA XC)

JR Joe Freiburger (14:37 5K; 41st at ‘18 NCAA XC)

SR Caleb Appleton (14:33 5K; 55th at ‘18 NCAA XC)

SO Dalton Martin (75th at ‘18 NCAA XC)

JR Matt Heinzman (121st ‘18 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis: 

The Wartburg men made a drastic jump at nationals last fall, going from 20th in 2017 all the way to fifth a year ago. It was the team’s best NCAA XC finish since 2003. With six of their top seven returning in 2019, the Knights are well-positioned to finally crack the DIII podium for the first time in school history.

Wartburg’s ascent in the last two years has been driven in large part by the production of No. 1 Sam Pinkowski. The junior-to-be has finished 46th and 27th in his first two seasons, respectively, and a decent year on the track has him set up for more this fall. Pinkowski was eighth in the 2019 indoor 5K in March.

Pinkowski’s development into a top-10 piece will be critical for coach Ryan Chapman’s team this fall, but the true strength of this group is their depth: The Knights have three other men coming back who placed top 75 in 2018. Joe Freiburger is a man to watch in 2019, as he placed 41st last November after taking 263rd just one year before.

The Knights’ limited success at DIII, especially compared to the giant ranked ahead of them, knocks them down a peg despite having one of the most talented rosters in the country. But if everything comes together, Wartburg could ascend from sleeper team to national champion in 2019.

FULL RANKINGS HERE