BOSTON – As it readies to open the Will Feldman era this weekend, the Suffolk men's cross country team has been predicted to finish fifth in the GNAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the league office released Tuesday. 

The preseason poll comes prior to the first gun of the 2017 season with a championship poll set to be released before the 2017 GNAC Championships, which will be hosted by Johnson & Wales at Colt State Park in Bristol, Rhode Island, Saturday, Oct. 28. 

With 51 points the Rams are tied with conference newcomer Regis to finish fifth. Headlining the poll is reigning conference champion Norwich, who picked up all, but one first place votes to garner 99 points. In second sits Emmanuel with 86, while Johnson & Wales earned the remaining first-place nod for 83 points and third place. Saint Joseph's (Maine) rounds out the top five in fourth place 71 points. Rounding out the poll is Lasell (46), Mount Ida (23), Rivier (21) and Anna Maria (20). 

Feldman, a Suffolk alma, returns to his alma mater to take over the reins of a team he once set records on. The first-year head coach will look upon his senior leadership of Paulo Guedes, who put together two sub-30 8Ks last season, to guide the Rams and improve upon the blue-and-gold's sixth-place finish at the conference championships in 2016.   

The new era of Suffolk cross country opens up this Saturday, Sept. 2 when Suffolk takes the course at the Roger William Invitational.