BOSTON – Suffolk cross country is set to hit the trails for the first time in 2021 this afternoon as the Rams host the Suffolk Short Course Classic at Franklin Park. The men's 5K will open the season at 1:30 p.m., with the women's 3K wrapping the action up at 2:15 p.m. 

SOCIAL SAYINGS
Ram Nation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on  Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

SUFFOLK ATHLETICS 2021-22 FAN POLICY
Suffolk University Athletics, following guidance from the University's health and safety protocols, Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), Centers for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, plans to allow fans to attend home athletic contests during the 2021-22 academic and athletic year.

Fans, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, can attend games. They must be masked the entire time they are on campus, pursuant to institutional policy, and complete a health screening form at the security desk of each building upon arrival. This policy applies to home contests played on campus at the Ridgeway Building's Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court, as well as the Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink and the Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink.

For outdoor outings, specifically at East Boston Memorial Park, fans are asked to respect COVID safety protocols. At this time, masks will not be mandated for fans no matter vaccinated status at outdoor venues.

MORE READING: Suffolk Athletics Announces Fan Policy for 2021-22

RAMS REWIND
Two years ago, Suffolk competed in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) for its final go and had standout individual performances, which included a conference individual champion in Matyas Csiki-Fejer, and a GNAC Rookie of the Year Cole Bolduc. 

The Rams went on to put together the program's best finish at NCAA New England regionals with a 25th-place performance to wrap up team competition. Csiki-Fejer put an exclamation point on the year and in the Rams' record books, however, as the then-sophomore sealed his spot at NCAA Division III Championships, the first Suffolk male runner to do so in program history. 

RAMS RINGLEADERS
Suffolk men's cross country will once again be led by the threesome of Matyas Csiki-Fejer, Nic Malm and Hunter Toyoda, head coach Will Feldman announced Wednesday afternoon. The trio was the first set of captains under Feldman's guidance in 2019 and will lead the blue-and-gold into a new era, competing in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) in the same role. 

MORE READING: Men's Cross Country Captain Trio Returns for 2021

RAMS ROOKIES
The Suffolk men's cross country will see eight fresh faces throughout the course in 2021. Head coach Will Feldmanassembled a recruiting class full of seven true rookies and one sophomore, Tim Barry, who brings his talents to Beacon Hill from Stonehill.

MORE READING: Men's Cross Country Brings in Eight Rookies for 2021

GEOGRAPHY 101
Suffolk's men's cross country 28-runner 2021 roster has a geographical make-up that spans 10 states and Spain.

The bulk of the roster calls the Bay State home with 14 Massachusetts natives. Four hail from Connecticut and a pair made the trip cross country from Washington. California, Hawaii, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire and New Jersey are represented by one runner, respectively.

Internationally, one ram flew in from Spain.

CLASS CATEGORIES
Will Feldman's first recruiting class has blossomed into seniors this season. Seven Rams are from Suffolk's Class of 2022 with a trio of juniors, 10 sophomores and seven true freshmen in blue-and-gold this year as well.

COACH'S CORNER
Will Feldman returns for his fifth season at the helm of the Suffolk cross country and track & field programs.

He has brought the Rams to regional and national success in his short term at the helm including two cross country runners – a male and female – competing at NCAA Division III Championships.

Aiding Feldman as an assistant coach this season is Josh Brodin.

WATCH AND SEE

THE COURSE
Franklin Park has turned into a familiar run for Suffolk. The partially-wooded 527-acre parkland in the Jamaica Plain and Roxbury neighborhoods of Boston is maintained by the Department of Conservation and creation.  

The park is a famed cross country course, hosting countless high school and collegiate meets through the year. Franklin Park is home to the Massachusetts All-States Meet, as well as the Northeast Division I Northeast Regional Championship on occasion and will be the location for the 2021 NCAA Division III East Regional Championships, hosted by Suffolk. The park includes courses for 5,000 meters, 6,000 meters, 8,000 meters and 10,000 meters. 

THE FIELD
The field features a representative from every NCAA Division with ten teams total sending student-athletes. The Rams' will be joined by CCC counterparts Roger Williams, Wentworth and the University of New England, MASCAC members Fitchburg and Framingham State and the Simmons women, as well as Bentley, Brown and Harvard.  

THE DISTANCE
To get the season going, the course was kept short. The women will run just a 3K, while the men competing in a 5K.  

COACH'S QUOTE
"This should be a great early season test for both the men and women," Feldman said. "Having Harvard and Brown in attendance is a special opportunity for our student athletes to compete against Ivy League, Division I competition."  

RAMS TO WATCH

• Freshman Thomas Novy will make his collegiate debut, and take the first steps towards becoming one of the top runners in the conference this season. 
• Suffolk will be counting on Selvin Backert and Cole Bolduc to make a jump this year, and really solidify the back half of the scoring. 
• Sophomore transfer Tim Barry and freshman Jadan Wenceslao are two new comers who could make a surprise impact on the Rams' top five. 

SIGHTS & SOUNDS: 2021 FALL MEDIA DAY

WHAT'S AHEAD?
Suffolk has two weeks to prep for its next event, the UMass Dartmouth Invitational, which ships the Rams to Dartmouth, Massachusetts, Saturday, Sept. 18.