2019 ALL-USTFCCCA ACADEMIC HONORS | 2019 ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMS
NEW ORLEANS – Senior captain Emily Manfra and the Suffolk women's cross country squad were recognized for their academic achievements with 2019 All-Academic Awards, given out by the U.S. track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Overall 212 women's teams earned the distinction, which has been awarded to squads since 1995-96, for teams that achieve a 3.10 combined GPA and compile a team score at a NCAA Regional Meet.
On the course, Suffolk qualified to be considered for this award after putting together the best team showing in program history with a 28th-place performance in Brunswick, Maine Nov. 16, 2019.
In the classroom, Will Feldman's Rams put together a 3.68 GPA, which is good for a tie of 28th out of the 212 teams honored. They share that spot with Rhodes, The College of Saint Scholastic, Swartmore and Vassar. The blue-and-gold are one of just two GNAC schools on the list along with Emmanuel.
The acknowledgement is Suffolk's third straight, all of which have come in the Feldman era.
Individually, Manfra made the list for the second time in her career for cross country, third overall, after another stellar season. For a student-athlete to be considered he/she must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.30 on a 4.0 scale and finish in the top-25 percent of their respective regional championship meet.
The Stoneham, Massachusetts product made the DIII Championship field for the second time in her career after producing not only a personal-best regional run, but had the best showing by a Rams runner at the regional race. She clocked 21:47.3 6K o place inside the Top 15 en route to All-Region honors for the second straight season.
Manfra went on to race at NCAAs, where she took 54th out of 277 competitors, a program and conference-best.
In addition to her athletic achievements, she excelled in the classroom as well. The Biology major assembled a perfect 4.0 GPA over the fall to bring her cumulative GPA at near perfect, 3.989.
Manfra was one of just two GNAC student-athletes to achieve the feat along with Colby Sawyer's Shannon O'Connell.