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. 6 men’s spot in DIII goes to Amherst, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

JR Clark Ricciardelli (14:50 5K; 30:14 10K; 33rd at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Cosmo Brossy (8:24 3K; 14:33 5K; 82nd at ’17 NCAA XC)

JR Spencer Ferguson-Dryden (14:55 5K; 111th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Tucker Meijer (8:42 3K; 112th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Kristian Sogaard (1:50 800; 191st at ’17 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis:

Fresh off a fourth place finish at nationals that marked their first ever podium trip, the Mammoths from Amherst College return five of their top seven with eyes on repeating the feat in 2018. Gone is former No. 1 man Mohamed Hussein, who was 23rd at NCAAs, but Amherst should remain a national force with a low stick coming back in All-American Clark Ricciardelli and plenty of NCAA experience behind him.

First year head coach Cassie Funke-Harris will inherit a projected top five of all upperclassmen, including three seniors. One of those is Cosmo Brossy, the de facto deputy behind Ricciardelli, who was 82nd at nationals last fall. Brossy looks set to improve a lot this cross country season, as he qualified for both indoor and outdoor nationals for the first time, finishing 10th in the indoor 3k and outdoor 5k. By the look of it, the Mammoths could have two All-Americans this season if Ricciardelli and Brossy perform up to expectations.

Behind the top two, Amherst will count on improvements from an NCAA-tested trio. Spencer Ferguson-Dryden and Tucker Meijer were 111th and 112th at nationals last year, respectively, in each of their NCAA XC debuts. It seems reasonable, after nice track seasons for both, to expect more out of the pair in 2018. Kristian Sogaard is more of a mid-distance type, but he too should benefit from another shot at the national meet after running it in consecutive seasons.

FULL RANKINGS HERE