BOSTON – For the second time in program history, first since 2021, Suffolk University's men's and women's cross country will put its NCAA hosting hat on as the Rams will serve as the host for the NCAA Division III East Regional Cross Country Championships this Saturday, Nov. 11 at Hopkinton Fair Grounds in Hopkinton, New Hampshire.
Approximately 40 teams will converge in the Granite State with the men's 8k race set for an 11 a.m. start with the women's 6k following an hour later with a trip to the 2023 NCAA Division III Championships on the line.
SOCIAL SAYINGS
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TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
For everything you need to know about the 2023 NCAA Division III East Regional Championships visit the tournament central page on GoSuffolkRams.com here.
EVENT SCHEDULE
- 8:30 AM - Course Opens
- 10:35 AM - National Anthem
- 11:00 AM - Men's 8k
- 12:00 PM - Women's 6k
- 1:30 PM - Awards Ceremony
THE COURSE
The men and women from around the East region will each be competing in the regional race on the course at Hopkinton Fair Grounds. A map of the course is outlined here.
TO BE THE BEST, YOU HAVE TO BEAT THE BEST
The NCAA Division III East Regional is one of the most competitive in the country.
On the women's side MIT is the only programs ranked in the top-25 nationally at seventh, while WPI is right on the cusp at 27.
A pair of men's teams are featured in the latest national poll highlighted by No. 3 MIT and No. 19 Tufts.
MORE INFO: USTFCCCA National & Regional Rankings
AUTOMATIC QUALIFIERS
With the 10 region set-up, there will be one automatic qualifier at each region handed out to the top place team.
AT-LARGE BIDS
Teams who do not top their respective fields Saturday will still have a chance to make the NCAAs as 22 at-large bids for squads will be awarded. Additionally, the top seven individuals from each regional, 70 total, who did not qualify with their team will earn a bid to the national championships as well.
The entire 2023 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship field will be announced on NCAA.com on Sunday, Nov. 12 before 3 p.m.
ALL-NEW ENGLAND UP FOR GRABS
There are two all-region teams, one given by the USTFCCCA and the other handed out by the DIII New England Association.
In order to garner USTFCCCA All-East Region, an individual must place in the top 35 Saturday, while the top 20 finishes at Hopkinton Fair Grounds will be awarded All-New England from the DIII New England Association.
RAMS REGIONAL HISTORY
Suffolk's men's team will run at the event for the fifth straight time and seventh time in program history. The Rams, who debuted on the regional scene in 2009, had their best team showing in 2021 with a ninth-place performance.
The women on the other hand have raced in seven regionals and have put together back-to-back program-best ninth-place performances in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
RAMS RANKINGS
In the last edition of the 2023 USTFCCCA Regional Rankings, Suffolk's women's were slotted a program-best sixth, while the men moved up to seventh following the Rams performance at the 2023 CCC Championships.
MORE READING: Men's Cross Country Moves Up to Seventh in East in USTFCCCA Rankings | Women's Cross Country Jumps Up to Sixth in East in USTFCCCA Rankings
LAST TIME OUT [ MEN ]
Suffolk men's cross country put together a second-place performance at the Commonwealth Coast Conference Championships Saturday afternoon at Gordon College. The runner-up finish marks the third in a row and third time in program history that the Rams claimed third in the league title race.
MORE READING: Men's Cross Country Runner-Up at CCC Championships
LAST TIME OUT [ WOMEN ]
Suffolk women's cross country took care of business at the 2023 Commonwealth Coast Conference Championships, as the Rams won their third consecutive conference crown.
MORE READING: Women's Cross Country Threepeats as CCC Championships
ALL-LEAGUE ACCOLADES
After capturing its third consecutive CCC crown, Suffolk women's cross country saw five student-athletes take home All-CCC distinction in Ellie Davis, Sarah Roberts, Sydney Fogg, Amy Pattelena and Emily Concepion. The Rams' men, meanwhile, had a record-number of student-athletes finish in the top-15 at the conference championships en route to All-CCC in Tim Barry, Hayden Green, Thomas Novy and Luke Sikora.
MORE READING: Men's Cross Country Quartet Earns All-CCC | Women's Cross Country Sees Five Capture All-CCC
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Pending Saturday's showing, Suffolk's season will either continue onto the 2023 NCAA DIII Cross Country Championships, which are on tap for next Saturday, Nov. 18 in Newville, Pennsylvania at Big Spring High School or cap off the Rams 2023 campaign.
