2017 FloXC Countdown

2017 FloXC Countdown: #5 Chico State Women

2017 FloXC Countdown: #5 Chico State Women

2017 FloXC Countdown: #5 Chico State Women

Sep 10, 2017 by Lincoln Shryack
2017 FloXC Countdown: #5 Chico State Women
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. 5 women's spot goes to Chico State, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Hannah Dorman (34:46 10K; 46th at '16 NCAA XC)
SR Karlie Garcia (34:47 10K; 50th at '16 NCAA XC)
SO Nora Pizzella (59th at '16 NCAA XC)
SR Alex Burkhart (10:14 3K SC; 51st at '15 NCAA XC)
SO Kayden Carpenter (87th at '16 NCAA XC)

Analysis:

Despite having zero returning All-Americans, the Chico State Wildcats make up for their lack of star power with a deep roster featuring no glaring weaknesses. Chico's entire projected top five have finished inside the top 90 at NCAAs, and with improvements by their key players on the track this past spring, the Wildcats have a great shot to reach their third-consecutive podium.

This squad is led by two seniors who seem due for their first XC All-American finishes. Hannah Dorman was just 10 seconds away from the top 40 last season, and her fourth-place finish in the outdoor 10K in May was the best by a non-senior. Karlie Garcia's resume is nearly identical to Dorman's, as the senior was 50th at NCAAs last fall and also has a top-five NCAA 10K finish to her credit.

Coach Gary Towne has to like the potential of his third through fifth runners. Senior Alex Burkhart was only 114th at nationals in 2016, but she was 51st the season before and will be coming off by far her best track season to date. Nora Pizzella and Kayden Carpenter were only freshmen when they finished 59th and 87th, respectively, and will likely be capable of a lot more after a year of college training.

The ceiling and floor are very high and low for Chico State. With an already-proven roster filled with names seemingly on the cusp of breaking out, the Wildcats are almost certainly a top-five team again. Chico is on the outside looking in on the podium for now because of the star power ahead of them, both individually and historically, but this team is certainly equipped to make it three straight trophies at nationals.

FULL WOMEN'S RANKINGS HERE