NEW ORLEANS – For the first time in Suffolk's men's and women's cross country's histories, both programs saw multiple student-athletes pick up All-East Region from the U.S. Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). Thanks to their top-35 performances at the 2023 NCAA Division III East Regionals last Saturday, Nov. 11 Tim Barry and Thomas Novy, as well as Ellie Davis and Amy Pattelena all received the regional recognition.
A total of 350 men from 124 different programs and 350 women from 135 different institutions earned the distinction of all-region by virtue of a top-35 finish at one of the 10 regional sites last Saturday. Only athletes from USTFCCCA member programs are eligible for the awards.
Barry and Novy claimed the distinction for the first time in their careers. They are the first student-athletes to achieve the feat since Matyas Csiki-Fejer collected the award in 2021. The senior and junior are the first Rams pair to take home the distinction in the same season in the Suffolk men's cross country program history.
The awards came on their personal-best times that helped Suffolk put together a program-best team finish of eighth at the regional race. Barry clocked a 25:05.42 to lock up 13th in the field of 229, while Novy crossed the tape in 25:46.38 to place 32nd.
For the women, Davis captured her second straight regional award, she is the second-ever Ram, first since Emily Manfra, to have multiple all-region accolades to her credit. Pattelena, meanwhile, collected her first-ever regional accolade. The graduate student and sophomore are the first Rams to earn all-region in the same season in Suffolk's women's cross country history.
Pattelena paced Suffolk's squad to a program-best sixth-place team finish as she coasted on the 6k course to a 22:32.26, good for 20th. Davis logged a 22:53.87 to wrap up 29th in the 231-runner field.
Both women and Novy have completed their 2023 cross country campaigns, while Barry will continue onto the 2023 NCAA Division III Championships this weekend in Newville, Pennsylvania at Big Springs High School. The Westborough, Massachusetts, earned a place at nationals with an at-large bid.