Check out the Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 31 cross country teams in the NCAA this season. The No. 28 spot goes to Vanderbilt this year, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SO Caroline Pietrzyk (16:37 5K; 32nd at '15 NCAA XC)
SR Carmen Carlos (9:21 3K; 16:31 5K; 148th at '15 NCAA XC)
SO Sara Tsai (4:46 Mile; 167th at '15 NCAA XC)
JR Maddie Criscione (2:09 800; 4:30 1500; 214th at '15 NCAA XC)
SR Reagan Anderson (4:25 1500; 58th at '15 NCAA South XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Lauren Moffett via Fresno, CA (10:37 3200; 29th at '15 FL West XC)
Mailin Struck via Germany (9:34 3K; 16:27 5K)
Kendall Derry via Fair Oaks, CA (4:52 1600)

Analysis:

The Commodores are entering a transition year following the departure of longtime head coach Rhonda Riley, who accepted the same position at Duke. Riley guided five teams to NCAA appearances while at Vanderbilt, and will have big shoes to fill.

On July 29, Vanderbilt announced Rebekah Smeltzer was added to the program as an assistant coach for the cross country and distance programs. Smeltzer's previous experience includes a two-year coaching stint at Western Michigan. Smeltzer inherits a team that includes a lot of up-and-coming talent and All-American Caroline Pietrzyk, who finished 32nd at last year's NCAA championships.

Although the Commodores graduated a number of talented seniors, Pietrzyk should continue to lead in the fall. In her freshman season, she secured a runner-up finish in the South Region, a third-place finish at the SEC championships, and a 35th-place finish at the competitive Wisconsin Invitational.