Men’s Cross Country Chosen Seventh in GNAC Preseason Poll

BOSTON – With the first true Will Feldman recruiting class on roster, the Suffolk men's cross country team has been predicted to finish seventh by the league's head coaches in the GNAC Preseason Poll released Tuesday afternoon by the conference. 

For the second straight season, the conference's 11 coaches voted prior to the first race of the season to see where the competition would finish leading up to the 2018 GNAC Championships, which are slated for Saturday, Oct. 27 in Standish, Maine. A championship poll will be released prior to the race for all the glory. 

Suffolk's 59 points were good for seventh to finish ahead of Lasell (50), Rivier (29), St. Joseph (Conn.) (25) and Anna Maria (19). 

The three-time defending champ Norwich is the unanimous preseason favorites with the Cadets garnering all 11 first-place votes for 121 points, 25 ahead of second-place prediction Emmanuel (96). Regis (92) is four behind Emmanuel with Saint Joseph's (Maine) (84), and the newest GNAC member Colby Sawyer (83) completing the top five. 

Feldman brought in 10 freshmen to pace the blue-and-gold over four meets and two championship courses in 2018. Sophomore Nicholas Nunez is the lone returner from a Rams squad that placed eighth at the conference championships a year ago. 

Suffolk will get right to work as it opens its season this Friday, Aug. 31 at the Suffolk Duels, which feature Newbury and Lasell.