BOSTON – For the first time in over a decade, the Suffolk cross country team will serve as host to an invitational and this time the Rams will do it as they pull the curtain back on their season opener. Earlier this week the blue-and-gold ventured out to The Berkshires for its own meet, the Suffolk Duels, Friday, August 31, which features Lasell at the Suffolk Duels Friday, Aug. 31. The women's 5k begins at 11 a.m., with the men following in an 8k at 11:45 a.m. 

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THE COURSE
Both races — the women's 5k and men's 8k — will take place in Great Barrington, Mass.

THE FIELD
Suffolk entertains fellow GNAC counterpart Lasell and Boston neighbor Newbury. 

ROSTER RUNDOWN
Suffolk's men's squad is comprised of 11 runners, 10 newcomers, the first true recruiting class of Will Feldman, and just one returner in sophomore Nicholas Nunez. 

On the women's side, standouts Emily Manfra and Emma Weisse return for their junior campaigns. Manfra and Weisse each finished as a runner-up performance together at the GNAC Championship — Manfra accomplished the feat as a freshman in 2016, while Weisse did so last season. The pair will battle for the top individualist honor as juniors this year. 

To complement the shoes of Manfra and Weisse are returners Allison Espindola and Natalie Fay and newcomers Olivia Chilcott and Mai Linh Vankirk.

RAMS RINGLEADERS
Will Feldman, the head coach of cross country/track & field, has announced that Suffolk women's cross country juniors Emily Manfra and Emma Weisse will lead the Rams in 2018 as co-captains. 

MORE READING: Women's Cross Country Names Junior Pair Co-Captains

PRESEASON POSITION
Prior to the 2018 season, the GNAC head coaches voted on their predictions of how the squads will finish at the 2018 GNAC Championships, which will be held Saturday, OCt. 27 in Standish, Maine. Suffolk's women's squad was picked to finish sixth, while the men's team was selected to finish seventh. 

MORE READING: Women's Cross Country Picked Sixth in GNAC Preseason Poll | Men's Cross Country Chosen Seventh in GNAC Preseason Poll

AT THE HELM
Will Feldman is back for his second season at the helm of Suffolk's program. The former Ram, who is scattered throughout the cross country annals, was named the inaugural head coach of cross country/track & field in the Spring of 2017. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
The Rams will take next weekend off and are set to be back in action at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational Saturday, Sept. 15.