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. 1 women’s spot in DIII goes to Johns Hopkins, and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Ellie Clawson (16:58 5K; 35:12 10K; 3rd at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Natalia LaSpada (17:02 5K; 36:03 10K; 23rd at ’17 NCAA XC)

SO Therese Olshanski (4:34 1500; 9:57 3K; 29th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Felicia Koerner (9:24 3K; 16:41 5K; 34:27 10K; 29th at ’16 NCAA XC)

JR Rebecca Grusby (9:54 3K; 17:00 5K; 48th at ’17 NCAA XC)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis:

The ladies of Johns Hopkins University won their fifth NCAA title in six years last season with perhaps their most dominant performance ever, as the Blue Jays won by a staggering 95 points. 

That’s the good news. Want the even better news? JHU returns each of their top five scorers, giving head coach Bobby Van Allen yet another powerhouse squad that is all but assured of its third straight title.

Let’s go through this loaded roster. Senior Ellie Clawson is the NCAA’s top returner after finishing third at nationals last fall, and she is among a small handful of individual title contenders. Clawson improved dramatically last year, going from 57th at nationals in 2016  all the way to the top-three. After cutting huge chunks off her track PRs this spring as well, expect Clawson to come out dominating.

Fellow senior Natalia LaSpada has been an All-American each of the last two years, and should fill the role of No. 2 runner behind Clawson once again. Right there next to her will be sophomore Therese Olshanski, who had a spectacular freshman season in cross country and track. Not only did the frosh place 29th at XC nationals, but she also was an indoor All-American in the mile and a finalist in the outdoor 1500m. This top three is as strong as they come in DIII.

Of course, it doesn’t stop there. Felicia Koerner may have only been fourth on the team at NCAAs last fall, but she has the track resume of a true No. 1. She wasn’t quite up to her game this past spring, but in 2017 Koerner had the top indoor 3k and 5k times in DIII. If she can get back to her All-American ways— she was 29th at NCAAs in 2016— Hopkins could go crazy low at nationals. The Blue Jays’ fifth runner, junior Rebecca Grusby, was just behind Koerner last fall in 48th and should be in line for a huge improvement after smashing her 3k and 5k PRs in 2018.

If you’re another women’s DIII cross country program, good luck. Johns Hopkins has not a single weakness and is heavily favored to extend their dynasty once more in 2018.

FULL RANKINGS HERE