Check out the Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown where FloTrack ranks the top 31 cross country teams in the NCAA this season. The No. 17 spot goes to the Penn State this year, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SO Tessa Barrett (15:46 5K; 34:22 10K; 38th at '15 NCAA XC)
JR Elizabeth Chikotas (4:45 Mile; 9:17 3K; 16:04 5K; 102nd at '15 NCAA XC)
JR Jillian Hunsberger (4:31 1500m; 16:18 5K; 152nd at '15 NCAA XC)
SR Julie Kocjancic (4:24 1500m; 4:42 Mile; 181st at '15 NCAA XC)
FR Katie Munks (4:36 1500m; 9:52 3K) 

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Katie Munks via Central Valley, NY (4:36 1500m; 9:52 3K)
Julia Guerra via Oakland, NJ (4:51 1600m; 10:35 3200)
Danae Rivers via New Haven, CT (2:05 800m; 4:47 1600)

Analysis:

Last year, the Nittany Lions broke through with Big Ten and Mid-Atlantic team titles, and capped the season with a 16th-place team finish at the NCAA championships. This season, Penn State only loses one scorer in Tori Gerlach, and returns a host of talented athletes led by sophomore Tessa Barrett. 

Barrett earned her first All-American honor in cross country when she finished 38th at the NCAA championships last year. She continued her success in the 2016 indoor season with an 11th-place finish in the 5K. Barrett will have company in juniors Elizabeth Chikotas and Jillian Hunsberger up top. Chikotas didn't compete outdoors, but posted personal bests of 4:45 in the mile, 9:17 in the 3K, and 16:04 in the 5K during the indoor season. Hunsberger posted a personal best of 16:18 this past outdoor season and qualified to compete at NCAA East. 

These ladies are just the probable top three scorers. Penn State is fortunate enough to have several other talented women who could do some damage for a top-20 NCAA team finish.

Previously:
#18 Iowa State
#19 Syracuse
#20 San Francisco
#21 Kansas
#22 Weber State
#23 Cal
#24 North Carolina
#25 BYU
#26 Virginia
#27 Villanova
#28 Vanderbilt
#29 Texas
#30 Florida
#31 Minnesota