A fourth-place finish by freshman Shalane Flanagan in 20 minutes, 42 seconds led North Carolina's women's cross country team to a 12th-place team finish at the NCAA Championships in Iowa.
The finish placed the Tar Heels above all its preseason predictions.
UNC placed sixth last year, but lost several seniors from that squad.
The season began with more than 300 teams in the running for a chance to participate in the NCAA Championships, a number that dwindled to 31 after the Southeast Regionals on Nov. 11.