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. And be sure to watch our LIVE FloXC Podium Reveal Show Tuesday, September 11th at 10 AM CT. The No. 9 men’s spot goes to Wisconsin, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Morgan McDonald (3:55 Mile; 7:51 3K; 13:15 5K; 7th at ‘16 NCAA XC)

JR Oliver Hoare (3:37 1500; 7:51 3K; 14:07 5K; 187th at ‘17 NCAA XC)

SO Olin Hacker (8:06 3K; 13:59 5K; 66th at ‘16 NCAA XC)

JR Zack Snider (8:06 3K; 13:54 5K; 29:15 10K)

JR Ben Eidenschink (8:14 3K; 14:02 5K; 29:17 10K)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis:

The Wisconsin men didn’t qualify for NCAAs in 2017, but that was mostly by design as the Badgers were gearing up for their big push this season as they host nationals in Madison for the first time. Superstar Aussie Morgan McDonald sat out last fall with this in mind, and his return should elevate UW into a top 10 contender and possibly more. 

Wisconsin is undoubtedly a sleeper team this season since they were a non-factor last year, but McDonald and 2017 Big 10 champ Oliver Hoare could form a formidable 1-2 punch. As coach Mick Byrne is famous for saying, “don’t ever underestimate the heart of a Badger,” and with their best runner coming back and an NCAA meet on their home course, that rings especially true this year.

McDonald is a known entity at this point as a 13:15 5k runner who finished seventh at NCAA XC in 2016-- he should be in the top five at nationals no problem. The bigger question will be Hoare; McDonald’s fellow Aussie shocked many by winning the NCAA 1500m in Eugene, and he’s shown he can excel on the grass by winning Big 10 and finishing third in the Great Lakes regional in 2017. But he also has yet to run well at NCAA XC, as he was 185th last year and 227th in 2016. He’ll need to step up this year for Wisconsin to crack the top 10.

Redshirt sophomore Olin Hacker is another crucial piece this season for the Badgers. Hacker didn’t compete at all for Wisconsin during the 2017-2018 campaign, and injuries have hampered his career thus far in Madison. But when he’s on form, Hacker is a stud on the XC course: he was 66th as a freshman at NCAAs in 2016. The former Foot Locker runner-up ran a few decent races unattached on the track this spring, so there’s optimism that he can be a valuable piece in 2018.

The Badgers have plenty of depth behind their projected top three, so any number of  four to five men could fill out their final two scoring positions. Ben Eidenschink was Wisconsin’s No. 3 at regionals last year, and is coming off a great spring. He’ll be expected to compete for a top five spot, as will fellow junior Zack Snider, who ran a 13:54 5k in April.

FULL RANKINGS HERE