2017 FloXC Countdown

2017 FloXC Countdown: #14 Boise State Women

2017 FloXC Countdown: #14 Boise State Women

The Boise State women rank No. 14 on the 2017 FloXC Countdown.

Sep 1, 2017 by Johanna Gretschel
null
Follow our 2017 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 25 cross country teams and individuals in the NCAA this season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. The No. 14 women's spot goes to Boise State, and here's why:

Probable Top Three:

SO Allie Ostrander (8:54 3K; 15:21 5K; 9:41 3K SC; 1st at '17 NCAA 3K SC; 4th at '17 NCAA 5K; 2nd at '15 NCAA XC)
JR Brenna Peloquin (9:23 3K; 15:55 5K; 32:58 10K; 9th at '15 NCAA XC; 6th at '16 NCAA XC)
SO Clare O'Brien (9:09 3K; 15:57 5K; 17th at '17 NCAA Outdoor 5K; 43rd at '16 NCAA West XC )

Fourth/Fifth Woman Battle:

SR Minttu Hukka (9:27 3K; 16:09 5K; 9:56 3K SC; 51st at '15 NCAA XC; 20th at '16 NCAA 3K SC)
SR Gracie Tostenson (9:39 3K; 16:27 5K; 204th at '15 NCAA XC; 224th at '14 NCAA XC)
SO Kyra Lopez (9:51 3K; 10:31 3K SC; 56th at '16 NCAA West XC)
JR Alexis Fuller (2:07 800; 4:22 1500; 16:34 5K; 197th at '15 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Grace McConnochie via Portland (9:48 3K; 16:33 5K; 33:31 10K; 11th at '17 NCAA 10K; 244th at '16 NCAA XC)
Emily Venters via Lawrence, KS (4:49 1600; 10:16 3200; 32nd at '16 NXN)
Erin Mullins via Leavenworth, WA (4:35 1500; 10:43 3200)

Analysis:

With the return of Boise State's prize runner Allie Ostrander after a redshirt season last fall, the Broncos become a top contender not only to return to the NCAA XC championships but to break into the top 15 overall teams.

Ostrander is tabbed as one of the top challengers to dethrone defending NCAA XC champion Karissa Schweizer of Missouri. She was runner-up as a true freshman in 2015 and led the Broncos to an 11th-place team finish. Her biggest obstacle might be herself -- can she stay healthy to last through November? In two years of NCAA eligibility, she has competed at just two NCAA Championship events.

Ostrander plus Brenna Peloquin makes for perhaps the nation's best 1-2 punch. Peloquin, a junior, placed ninth and sixth, respectively, in her freshman and sophomore showings at NCAA XC. The All-American redshirted outdoors while Ostrander won her first national title in the steeplechase. Hopefully both will be healthy for the cross country season.

Behind that dynamic duo, there's Clare O'Brien, who came to Idaho via Australia and made a huge impact in her freshman year with a 15:57 5K outdoors. She was 17th at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, behind Grace McConnochie, who placed 11th in that race and has transferred to Boise State from Portland for graduate school. Both look to factor heavily into team scoring for the Broncos. Senior Minttu Hukka, a 16:09 performer for 5K and 51st at the 2015 NCAA XC, looks like the natural fit for the No. 5 spot, though competition will be fierce.

FULL WOMEN'S RANKINGS HERE