Follow our 2018 FloXC Countdown, where FloTrack ranks the top cross country teams in the NCAA this season, which will be LIVE on FloTrack. The No. 10 men’s spot in DIII goes to UW-Eau Claire, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Patrick Treacy (8:30 3K; 34th at ’16 NCAA XC)

SR Sam Kuhlmann (15:16 5K; 146th at ’16 NCAA XC)

SR Anthony Dupont (168th at ’17 NCAA XC)

JR Alex Winn (4:23 Mile; 8:51 3K)

SO Dylan Lueck (4:19 Mile; 8:58 3K)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis:

Gone is 2017 NCAA XC individual champion Darin Lau, and so too are two of his fellow seniors, but Wisconsin-Eau Claire brings back enough talent and experience to be nationally competitive once more.

Senior Patrick Treacy can be this team’s No. 1 if he’s running at full strength. Treacy was an All-American as a sophomore back in 2016, but he struggled last year and was only 139th at nationals. A return to form for him will be critical for the Blugolds. Treacy can’t hope to replace Lau’s production atop DIII, but after a nice spring he should be ready to challenge for top-40 contention again.

Two seniors are likely to occupy the Blugolds’ two and three spots. Neither Sam Kuhlman or Anthony Dupont has placed inside the top 100 at NCAAs, but Eau Claire will rely on them rising to the occasion in 2018. The good news is that both had nice springs and are each experienced at the national level. Alex Winn and Dylan Lueck should join the top five this season, and they’ll be tested early and often for a team lacking a ton of depth. Lueck, along with Treacy, was a part of UW-Eau Claire’s fifth place DMR team at NCAA indoor in March.

FULL RANKINGS HERE