NEW ORLEANS – For the first time in program history, Suffolk women's cross country saw three student-athletes receive All-East recognition from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) in Amalia Dorion, Sofia Moukaddem and Amy Pattelena, the national organization unveiled.
Athletes earned all-region distinction by virtue of a top-35 finish at one of the ten NCAA Division III regional sites this past weekend. Only athletes from USTFCCCA member institutions are eligible for the awards.
It is the second straight season that Suffolk's women's squad had multiple Rams receive the distinction with the three honors writing a program record. Pattelena picked up her second straight honor to become the third Ram to earn multiple all-region nods from USTFCCCA in program history, first since Ellie Davis accomplished the feat last season. Dorion and Moukaddem, meanwhile, took home the feat for the first time in their careers.
The awards come on the heels of Suffolk's best-ever team finish at regionals with a fifth place showing, just two points out of a podium finish.
Dorion was the blue-and-gold's leader as the grad student commanded the 6k course with a time of 22;26.00 to secure 14th in the 224-runner race at the Hopkinton Fairgrounds.
Pattelena compiled her best regional finish of 17th. The junior crossed the tape in 22:34.91.
Moukaddem, who ran the race as a Ram for the first time and second time in her collegiate career, used a personal-best time of 22:55.32 to take 26th.
Overall, 350 women from 140 programs earned the accolade. Suffolk's triad were half of Conference of New England (CNE) student-athletes that earned the accomplishment as a pair from Gordon picked up the nod, as well as one runner from the University of New England.
Both of Suffolk's program, men and women, had runners race to the accomplishment. The Rams are one of two CNE institutions to see that happen this season alongside UNE. Overall, 88 institutions had both their respective men's and women's team have at least one student-athlete garner the award.