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 men’s spot in DIII goes to North Central (Ill.), and here's why:

Probable Top Five:

SR Dhruvil Patel (13:58 5K; 29:47 10K; 3rd at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Al Baldonado (30:04 10K; 8th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Matthew Norvell (14:27 5K; 30:02 10K; 17th at ’17 NCAA XC)

SR Zach Hird (14:24 5K; 24th at ’16 NCAA XC)

JR Matt Osmulski (14:37 5K; 30:05 10K)

Impact Freshmen/Transfers:

N/A

Analysis:

The winningest program in NCAA cross country returns another loaded roster in 2018 looking to capture their 19th NCAA DIII cross country title. Legendary head coach Al Carius has been there for all 18 so far, including another dominant championship in 2017, and this season will mark an incredible 53rd year at the helm for the North Central icon. With four senior All-Americans returning, the Cardinals will expect to add to their coach’s title-winning legacy once more.

Last year’s national runner-up, Jared Borowsky, is no longer on the team, but NCC still has plenty of star power. Senior Dhruvil Patel was third at NCAAs last fall, and will enter this season fresh off a spectacular year on the track that saw him win two national titles. Patel was the indoor 5,000m and outdoor 10,000m champion in 2018, and his 13:58 5k PR was good for seventh-best in DIII history. He should be the favorite for the national title come November.

Three more trusty All-Americans, plus a promising potential fifth man, fill out the rest of North Central’s projected scoring roster. Al Baldonado has placed in the top-15 at NCAAs for two straight years, while fellow senior Matthew Norvell was a solid 17th in his NCAA debut in 2017. Zach Hird was just 86th a year ago, but his 24th place finish from 2016 shows his true ability. Junior Matt Osmulski projects as the team’s fifth scorer, and a solid one at that, as he was 10th in the NCAA 10k this spring.  

The experience and talent up front will make the Cardinals incredibly tough to beat. Death, taxes, and North Central cross country.

FULL RANKINGS HERE