NEW ORLEANS – Ten days away from the first race of 2023, Suffolk women's cross country appeared in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason Regional Rankings as the eighth team in the East, the national organization unveiled.
Eighth is the highest preseason rank for the Rams in program history after the blue-and-gold emerged in the poll prior to last season. It is the second time in Suffolk's record book that the team earned the eighth-place position after it ended the 2022 campaign in that same spot after claiming its second straight Commonwealth Coast Conference crown in as many years.
The USTFCCCA Regional Cross Country Coaches' Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning teams' strengths with current season results, when applicable, in determining a rank-order by squad potential. Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible to receive a ranking. The weekly regional ranking by the USTFCCCA began in 2010.
Suffolk has been featured in all, but one weekly regional polls by the USTFCCCA since emerging in the regional ranks in the week 7 edition of the 2021 season.
Suffolk, the only member of the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) to break into the regional rankings, was also one of seven east institutions to see both their men's and women's program to be recognized on the preseason list with the Rams men sitting ninth on their respective list.
Will Feldman, who begins his seventh season at the helm of the Rams' rising program, brings back the core of his two-time CCC Champion line-up including USTFCCCA All-Region graduate student Ellie Davis, as well as all-league performers Katelynn Brunt, Sydney Fogg, Skyler Goodman, Amy Pattelena and Sarah Roberts.
Suffolk is just over a week away from its first meet of 2023, the Short Course Classic, which is on the calendar for Friday, Sept. 1 at Franklin Park at 4:00 p.m.