Follow our 2018 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 25 cross country teams and individuals in the NCAA this season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. And, be sure to watch our LIVE FloXC Podium Reveal Show Tuesday, September 11th at 10 AM CT. The No. 6 women’s spot goes to North Carolina State, and here's why:

Probable Top Six:

JR Elly Henes (9:07 3K; 15:43 5K; 32nd at ’17 NCAA XC)

SO Dominique Clairmonte (15:55 5K; 58th at ’17 NCAA XC)

JR Bethlehem Taye (16:38 5K; 54th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Nell Crosby (9:54 3K SC; 16:22 5K; 141st at ’17 NCAA XC)

FR Nevada Mareno (4:43 Mile; 10:00 2 Mile; 2nd at ’16 FL XC)

SR Ryen Frazier (16:02 5K; 150th at ’17 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Nell Crosby via Columbia (9:54 3K SC; 16:22 5K; 141st at ’17 NCAA XC)

Savannah Shaw via Upper St. Claire, PA (4:51 Mile; 16th at ’17 FL XC)

Mariah Howlett via Huntersville, NC (10:37 3200; 20th at ’17 FL XC)

Analysis:

The NC State women return five runners from a 2017 cross country season that saw them win the ACC and Southeast Region titles and place eighth at NCAAs. This fall should see them getting much closer to their 2016 podium finish.

The Wolfpack is led by Elly Henes—the daughter of head coach Laurie Henes—who improved dramatically as a true sophomore to earn All-American honors with a 32nd place finish at NCAA XC, set a 15:43 5K PB, win two individual ACC titles and net two appearances in the NCAA 5K final (seventh indoors and 16th outdoors). 

Bethlehem Taye (16:38 5K PB), Dominique Clairmonte (15:55 5K PB) and Ryen Frazier (16:02 5K PB) return from last year’s top five and will benefit from depth via Columbia transfer Nell Crosby, a 9:54 steeplechaser, as well as Foot Locker finalists Savannah Shaw and Mariah Howlett. Nevada Mareno, two-time Foot Locker runner-up, looks poised for her NCAA debut this season after transferring from Stanford this spring.

FULL RANKINGS HERE