Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #5 New Mexico Women

Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #5 New Mexico Women

Check out the Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown where FloTrack ranks the top 31 cross country teams in the NCAA this season. The No. 5 spot goes to New Mexico this

Aug 25, 2016 by Taylor Dutch
Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #5 New Mexico Women
Check out the Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown where FloTrack ranks the top 31 cross country teams in the NCAA this season. The No. 5 spot goes to New Mexico this year, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:
JR Alice Wright (15:45 5K; 32:26 10K; 5th at '15 NCAA XC)
SR Calli Thackery (9:03 3K; 15:37 5K; 15th at '15 NCAA XC)
SR Sophie Connor (2:05 800; 4:13 1500; 9:44 3K)
SR Rhona Auckland (15:27 5K; 32:22 10K; 13th at '15 NCAA XC)
SO Natasha Bernal (10:19 3K SC; 16:27 5K)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:
Kathryn Fluehr via Princeton University (16:21 5K; 34:29 10K; 81st at '15 NCAA XC)
Kyoko Koyama via Japan (16:38 5K; 34:54 10K; 1:17 Half Marathon)
Elizabeth Weiler via Lehigh University (16:43 5K; 35:19 10K; 38th at '14 NCAA XC)
Lindsay Crevoiserat via University of Oregon (4:22 1500; 9:09 3K; 15:57 5K)

Analysis:
The defending NCAA championship squad will lose three of their five top scorers from last year, which dropped their ranking to No. 5. But, as always, the Lobos are reloading with several impact transfers.

The Lobos return a lethal 1-2 punch of Alice Wright and Calli Thackery, who finished fifth and 15th, respectively, at last year's NCAA cross country championships. During the track season, Wright notched a runner-up finish in the 10K at the NCAA outdoor championships. Thackery finished sixth in the 3K at the NCAA indoor championships, and ran personal bests of 4:14 in the 1500m and 15:37 in the 5K.

All-American Rhona Auckland will also be returning for her final cross country season as a Lobo. She only raced once during the 2016 track season -- a 17:00 5K in April -- but could contribute as a scorer for the Lobos if she returns healthy in the fall.

Senior Sophie Connor could close the gap after a breakthrough track season. She finished 11th in the 1500m at the NCAA championships, and fifth in the indoor mile. She also notched a big personal best of 4:13 in the 1500m at the NCAA outdoor championships.

The Lobos will rely on a pack of transfers with impressive distance resumes. Kathryn Fluehr is arriving from Princeton after finishing 81st at last year's cross country championships and running a 16:21 5K PR. In addition, Elizabeth Weiler and Kyoto Koyama could sneak in the top five after both notching 5K PRs below 16:43.

With a rising senior class and several talented transfers, New Mexico should retain its place among the country's best.

Previously:
#6 Oregon
#7 Oklahoma State
#8 Stanford
#9 Michigan State
#10 Boise State
#11 Notre Dame
#12 Arkansas
#13 Harvard
#14 Georgetown
#15 Washington
#16 Princeton
#17 Penn State
#18 Iowa State
#19 Syracuse
#20 San Francisco
#21 Kansas
#22 Weber State
#23 Cal
#24 North Carolina
#25 BYU
#26 Virginia
#27 Villanova
#28 Vanderbilt
#29 Texas
#30 Florida
#31 Minnesota