Follow our 2018 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top 25 cross country teams and individuals in the NCAA this season which will be LIVE on FloTrack. The No. 4 men’s spot goes to Iowa State, and here's why:

Probable Top Seven:

JR Edwin Kurgat (7:56 3K; 13:41 5K; 21st at ’17 NCAA XC)

JR Andrew Jordan (7:56 3K; 13:44 5K; 15th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Dan Curts (8:09 3K; 13:45 5K; 68th at ’17 NCAA XC)

JR Thomas Pollard (14:02 5K; 29:30 10K; 98th at ’17 NCAA XC; 45th at ’16 NCAA XC)

JR Stanley Langat (14:12 5K; 53rd at ’17 NCAA XC)

JR Festus Lagat (3:46 1500)

SO Milo Greder (147th at ’17 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

Chad Johnson via North Robinson, OH (4:10 Mile; 8:52 3200; 11th at ’17 FL XC)

Analysis:

The Iowa State Cyclones led by head coach Martin Smith head into the 2018 season with their best squad in recent memory. The Cyclones return six of their top-7 from last year’s seventh place finish. However, if you include Edwin Kurgat’s 21st place finish from last year into Iowa State’s team score the Cyclones would’ve finished fourth overall ahead of Stanford. Now with Edwin Kurgat on the team the Cyclones are serious title contenders.

Behind Kurgat the team will be led by junior Andrew Jordan who was 15th overall last fall and improved his 5k personal best to 13:44. Also, senior Dan Curts should be even better in 2018 after running a 13:45 5k this spring.

Filling out the top six will be junior Thomas Pollard who was 45th two years ago, Stanley Langat (53rd last year) and Festus Lagat who will be much improved in 2018-19 after an injury riddled sophomore campaign.

Iowa State will also have younger athletes competing for varsity spots in true freshman Chad Johnson and redshirt freshman Tanner Norman. This is the year the Cyclones are legitimate title contenders and if everything goes as planned they will be even scarier in 2019 with only one senior on this year’s squad.

FULL RANKINGS HERE