Follow our 2017 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top ten cross country teams and individuals in the NCAA this season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. The No. 10 women's spot goes to Northern Michigan, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Kameron Burmeister (17:08 5K; 30th at '16 NCAA XC)
SR Caroline Brisbois (66th at '16 NCAA XC)
SR Vivian Hett (57th at '15 NCAA XC)
JR Sophie McDonald (93rd at '15 NCAA XC)
JR Abby Fifarek (17:52 5K; 132nd at '16 NCAA XC)

Analysis:

Northern Michigan was only 14th at nationals last fall, but this team is capable of much more. The Wildcats finished ninth in 2015, and remarkably, 80% percent of the scorers from that year's group are still around. Plus, the only runner from that year's top five who has graduated was their fifth scorer. Now with three seniors expected to form their top trio, NMU is an excellent candidate for a rebound performance this November.

Kameron Burmeister became the Wildcats' first cross country All-American in over a decade in 2016, improving 30 places from her 2015 showing. NMU's #1 excelled on the track this spring as well, qualifying for NCAA indoor and outdoor for the first time. Her continued ascension will be expected this fall.

Behind their leader, NMU has three more runners who have finished inside the top 100 at nationals. Caroline Brisbois was the team's #2 last November with her 66th place finish, but that role could also fall upon Vivian Hett, who led the Wildcats at NCAAs in 2015 in 57th. Regardless, this team will enjoy the luxury of a top three who each have multiple NCAA XC races under their belts.

The 4-5 runners proved to be Northern Michigan's Achilles Heel at nationals, as Abby Fifarek and Sophie McDonald were 132nd and 135th, respectively. Fortunately, McDonald has proven that she's better than that as she was 93rd in 2015, and so too has Fifarek, who was the team's #3 runner at regionals last year. This team stumbled a bit to fall to 14th, but expect a bounce back into the top-10 with so much experience on this roster.

FULL WOMEN'S RANKINGS HERE