2022 SUFFOLK MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE | 2022 SUFFOLK WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE
BOSTON – Suffolk men's and women's cross country has a half dozen events over 11 weeks in 2022, head coach Will Feldman announced.
"We've put together a very competitive schedule this fall," Feldman said. "We are racing against the top programs in the region each and every week."
Action gets underway Friday, Sept. 2 when the Rams welcome teams to Franklin Park for the Suffolk Short Course Classic.
"We have over 20 schools competing at our first meet in September including Harvard, Brown, Boston University, Northeastern and Holy Cross along with some of our top rivals in the CCC," Feldman said. "It will be an excellent chance for our young squads to text their fitness early, and see where we need to improve."
From there, Suffolk takes a week to prep for the UMass Dartmouth Invitational, a staple on the blue-and-gold's schedule, which is on the calendar for Saturday, Sept. 17.
"Historically we've had some excellent performances at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational including multiple race winners," Feldman commented. "I've found that UMass Dartmouth is an excellent barometer for our athletes with nationals aspirations."
Feldman continued, "If you can place in the top 10 at the UMass Dartmouth you'll have an excellent shot at qualifying for Nationals in November. There will be several teams who finished in the top 10 at Regionals last season competing, and we will look to use a positive performance to spring board us higher in the regional rankings."
A week later, Suffolk ships up to Brunswick, Maine for the Bowdoin Invitational Saturday, Sept. 24, where, according to Feldman, "both squads have a real opportunity to qualify for nationals, and the Bowdoin Invitational will be a tremendous opportunity to build their resumes for a NCAA bid."
Suffolk is idle for three weeks following its trip to Vacation Land to prep for its flagship event, the Suffolk Invitational, Saturday, Oct. 15 at Franklin Park.
"The Suffolk Invite has grown into one of the premiere cross country meets in New England," Feldman said. "We will have another large field of competitors including schools traveling from as far away as Texas to compete this year."
Not only does the Suffolk Invite serve as final prep before the Rams race on the championship courses, it also duels as the Battle for Boston Commons, a head-to-head battle between the rams and Lions of Emerson. The blue-and-gold has taken home the title of the neighborly competition since its inception in 2018.
Championship season commences at the CCC Championship Saturday, Oct. 29 at Rotary State Park in Biddeford, Maine. The Rams' women look to defend their title, while the men look to hoist the trophy for the first time in program history.
"It will be a new course for all of us, and we don't know what to expect," said Feldman. "With the schedule we've put together there won't be much that our athletes haven't send, and they should be fully prepared to compete for both team championships."
Once a conference champion is crowned, Suffolk's sights turn to regionals where the Rams will take their talents back to Brunswick, Maine, Saturday, Nov. 12, to race against the best-of-the-best from Maine, New Hampshire and Eastern Massachusetts.
"Our hope is that our teams can use the momentum from the CCC Championships at regionals to earn a pair of top five team finishes," Feldman said.
With a top five team finishes at regionals, Suffolk will be in the conversation for an at large bid at the 2022 NCAA Championship, which is scheduled to take place Saturday, Nov. 19 t Forest Akers East Golf Course in Lansing, Michigan.