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. 8 women's spot goes to Simon Fraser, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Julia Howley (4:25 1500; 29th at '16 NCAA XC)
SR Miryam Bassett (4:30 1500; 42nd at '16 NCAA XC)
JR Addy Townsend (2:07 800; 4:28 1500; 68th at '16 NCAA XC)
SR Paige Nock (4:48 mile; 179th at '16 NCAA XC)
JR Chelsea Riberio (187th at '16 NCAA XC)

Analysis:

The NCAA's Canadian team Simon Fraser brings back five of their top seven from their sixth-place nationals squad of a year ago. Although the departure of No. 1 Rebecca Bassett will hurt SFU's chances of improving on 2016's school-best finish, Simon Fraser still features a trio of top-70 runners that could surprise and propel this team to newer heights.

Senior Julia Howley leads the charge with her 29th-place finish from last November and a slew of PRs on the track making her a top-20 candidate in 2017. Miryam Bassett shouldn't be too far behind, as she was just two places away from the coveted top-40 last year.

The middle distance/XC trend continues with likely third and fourth runners Addy Townsend and Paige Nock. The junior Townsend showed spectacular range by placing 68th at nationals and then earning All-American honors in the indoor and outdoor 800 this spring. Townsend was only 80th at regionals in 2015; if she improves anywhere close to the level she did last season, she'll be an All-American. Nock was just 179th in 2016, but perhaps her 4:48 mile from 2017 will translate to better things on the XC course.

This team has several loaded rosters ahead of them in our preseason rankings that will make it tough to do better than sixth in 2017. But if SFU can clean up the high point projection of their backend scorers, a great day by their top three could equal some school history for the Canadians.

FULL WOMEN'S RANKINGS HERE