Follow our 2019 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 Monday, August 26th at 10 AM CT. The No. 9 women’s spot goes to BYU, and here's why:

Probable Top Seven:

SR Erica Birk (9:42 3K SC; 15:38 5K; 7th at ’18 NCAA XC)

SR Courtney Wayment (9:12 3K; 16:09 5K; 23rd at ’18 NCAA XC)

SR Olivia Hoj (9:11 3K; 16:17 5K; 86th at ’18 NCAA XC)

JR Anna Camp (4:41 Mile; 167th at ’18 NCAA XC)

SO Aubrey Frentheway (16:44 5K; 150th at ’18 NCAA XC)

SO Whittni Orton (4:13 1500; 115th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SO Sadie Sargent (124th at ’18 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis:

The BYU Cougars look practically destined for another top-10 finish at the NCAA Championships, as the Cougars return every single member of their 2018 seventh-place team. That placement was their best team finish since 2003.  

Team leader Erica Birk-Jarvis had a transcendent season last fall to capture All-American honors and nearly contend for the win less than one year after giving birth to her first child. She followed her seventh-place finish in Madison with fifth place in both the NCAA indoor 3k and steeplechase finals, plus anchored the Cougars to third place in the NCAA DMR. She will contend for a top 10 spot again. This year, everyone definitely knows her name.

After earning her first All-American honors in cross country, No. 2 Courtney Wayment had an abbreviated track season due to injury but still recorded a solid 5K debut in 16:09. 

Behind the duo up front, the Cougars have a solid pool of talent to pull from. Whittni Orton, who was 115th at the 2017 NCAA XC Championships, did not compete last fall in Madison but looks to be in the best shape of her life as she placed eighth in the NCAA 1500m final and ran PBs of 4:13 and 2:05 on the track. Fellow mid-distance runner Anna Camp is another wild card after cutting four seconds off her 800m PB to run 2:03 and place eighth at NCAAs in that event.

FULL RANKINGS HERE