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. 9 women's spot goes to Tufts, and here's why:

Probable Top Four:

SR Brittany Bowman (17:01 5K; 35:22 10K; 5th at '17 NCAA 10K; 18th at '16 NCAA XC)
JR Natalie Bettez (17:39 5K; 37:29 10K; 115th at '16 NCAA XC)
JR Kelsey Tierney (17:59 5K; 199th at '16 NCAA XC)
SO Haley Barthel (17:44 5K)

Fifth Woman Battle:

SR Margot Rashba (17:54 5K)
JR Olivia Nicholson (18:03 5K)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Johanna Ross via Oakland, CA (10:54 3200; 18:14 5K XC)
Grace Fagan via Winnetka, IL (5:06 1600; 17:56 3 Mile XC)

Analysis:

Tufts should start the scoring with a near-certain single digit: Brittany Bowman proved her consistency across all three seasons last year. She was fifth in the outdoor 10K, eighth in the indoor 5K, and 18th last fall. Behind her, they only need to score four, and they have plenty of options. There are four other women on the roster who have broken 18:00 for 5K at some point, a fifth who has run 18:03, and a freshman who has run 18:14 on grass.

If, say, three of those six women finish in the top 100 nationally and a fourth isn't way behind, this is a top-10 team. Natalie Bettez is an extremely good bet for a top-90 finish -- she's the No. 67 returner and ran better than ever in track, going 17:39 for 5K.

Haley Barthel, Margot Rashba, and Olivia Nicholson weren't stars last cross country season -- only Nicholson made the varsity (top 12) for the NESCAC meet, finishing 42nd. But all three had strong track seasons, running between 17:44 and 18:03. If one or two of them can jump another level, Tufts could be eyeing the front half of the top 10 on the perfect day. If they're just solid, then the Jumbos still have an excellent shot at their third-straight top-10 national finish.

FULL WOMEN'S RANKINGS HERE