BOSTON – With just a few final days left to prep for the 2018 GNAC Championships, the conference released the GNAC Championship poll Thursday afternoon. The Rams men's squad has been predicted second, while the women's team has been chosen to finish third.
In the vote among the league's head coaches, Suffolk's men's squad received first-place nod in the possible 11 be selected as the expected runner-up with 99 points behind Norwich, who picked up 10 first-place votes for 120 points. The Cadets have won each of the last three conference crowns and are the only team the Rams have yet to compete against this season. Overall, the blue-and-gold has faced all nine other of its conference counterparts in at least one race and has come out in front of its league foes.
On the women's side, the Rams picked up a pair of first-place votes to sit in third with 112 points behind favorite Emmanuel (127) and Norwich (115), who had seven and two first-place nods, respectively. Suffolk is buoyed by its junior co-captains Emily Manfra and Emma Weisse who each have made a name for themselves at the conference championship since emerging onto the scene as freshmen.
Due to inclement weather expected to hit the New England region Saturday, Oct. 27 the 2018 GNAC Cross Country Championships have been moved back to Sunday, Oct. 28 at St. Joseph's (Maine) SJC Cross Country Trail. The women's 5k gets things underway at 1 p.m., with the men's 8k race following at 2 p.m.
2018 GNAC Women's Cross Country Pre-Championship Poll
1. Emmanuel (7) - 127
2. Norwich (2) - 115
3. Suffolk (2) - 112
4. Colby Sawyer - 107
5. Saint Joseph's (Maine) - 94
6. Regis - 93
7. Simmons (1) - 89
8. Johnson & Wales - 78
9. Lasell - 47
10. Rivier - 33
11. USJ - 22
12. Anna Maria - 19
2018 GNAC Men's Cross Country Pre-Championship Poll
1. Norwich (10) - 120
2. Suffolk (1) - 99
3. Colby Sawyer - 95
4. Emmanuel - 89
5. Saint Joseph's Maine - 80
6. Regis - 71
7. Johnson & Wales - 59
8. Lasell - 40
9. USJ - 32
10. Rivier - 23
11. Anna Maria - 18