Follow our 2019 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 10 cross country teams in NCAA DII/DIII this season. The 2019 NCAA Cross Country Championships will be LIVE on FloTrack for all three divisions. The No. 3 DIII women’s spot goes to MIT, and here's why:

Projected Top Five:

SO Izzi Gengaro (54th at ‘18 NCAA XC)

JR Katie Collins (16:53 5K; 72nd at ‘18 NCAA XC)

SR Jenna Melanson (10:41 3K SC: 17:15 5K; 89th at ‘18 NCAA XC)

SR Katie Bacher (4:31 1500; 103rd at ‘18 NCAA XC)

SO Einat Gavish (133rd at ‘18 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis: 

The MIT women will have an excellent shot at making it three consecutive trips to the NCAA XC podium in 2019 as they return six of their seven nationals runners from last season. The Engineers do lose their lone All-American from 2018, Leandra Zimmermann, to graduation, but four women who placed 103rd or better last season will keep the team afloat.

Izzi Gengaro was hurtling towards an All-American finish in her freshman campaign before an untimely injury forced her out of the conference and regional meets. She still finished 54th at NCAAs, but a top 10 finish at Pre-Nationals showed she could be way better than that. Top 40 will be the expectation in year two. The same is true for Katie Collins, who really elevated her game in the spring to finish 10th in the NCAA indoor and outdoor 5k. She’s leaps and bounds better than 72nd this year.

Senior Jenna Melanson has earned three All-American honors on the track, but has yet to figure it out in cross country. However, if she can translate her 17:15 5k to the grass, which should be worth much more than 89th, she could really elevate this team.

Coach Halston Taylor will have two more reliable scorers occupying his fourth and fifth spots. Katie Bacher is an accomplished 1500 runner with significant NCAA experience. If she can run with teammates Collins and Melanson this season, the Engineers become very dangerous.

FULL RANKINGS HERE