Follow our 2018 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top cross country teams in the NCAA this season, which will be LIVE on FloTrack. The No. 2 men’s spot in DII goes to Colorado School of Mines, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Grant Colligan (14:12 5K; 5th at ’17 NCAA XC)

JR Logan Ramlet (30:48 10K (XC); 12th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Ricardo Ocampo (30:10 10K; 14th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Josh Hoskinson (3:48 1500; 14:05 5K; 27th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Ben Schneiderman 30:07 10K; 43rd at ’16 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis:

For the second straight year, Colorado School of Mines hammered a watered-down Adams State squad at the RMAC Cross Country Championships. And also for the second straight year, a much stronger version of Adams State returned the favor at nationals, silencing any debate about who was the top Division II program in the state of Colorado for another season. The Orediggers ran a solid, if unspectacular race at NCAAs last November, with four men in the top-30 leading them to a third place finish. Still, that’s not good enough against Adams’ bounty of low-sticks. 

But with all four of their top scorers returning in 2018, you can bet that Mines is eager for another shot at their mighty conference rival.

As they should be. Senior-to-be Grant Colligan had a fantastic fall last season, winning the RMAC XC title before finishing a career-best fifth at nationals. He’s a strong No. 1-type who figures to be even better in 2018 after recording several PRs on the track in the spring. The quartet supporting him is nearly as good, with Logan Ramlet, Ricardo Ocampo, and Josh Hoskinson all coming back after stellar All-American cross country seasons a year ago. Hoskinson in particular will be one to watch, as he dropped an impressive 14:05 5K on the track, best on the team.

The odds will once again be stacked against CSM toppling their RMAC foe Adams State, but with four accomplished seniors in their projected top five, this year would seem to be their best shot since winning the title back in 2015.

FULL RANKINGS HERE