NEW ORLEANS – Suffolk men's cross country clung to its regional ranking for the sixth straight week as the Rams dipped down to 10th in the East Region in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Regional Coaches Poll, the national organization announced Tuesday afternoon.
The Rams slipped down one spot after Southern Maine finished ahead of the blue-and-gold at the Suffolk Invite Saturday, Oct. 16. Suffolk took seventh with 231 points, while the Huskies' 230 was good for sixth at Franklin Park, the same site that the NCAA Division III East Regionals will take place Saturday, Nov. 13.
Suffolk made the program's regional ranking debut in the first poll of 2021 Sept. 14 and has been present in the weekly rankings ever since.
The USTFCCCA Regional Cross Country Coaches' Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning teams' strengths with current season results, when applicable, in determining in a rank-order of squad potential. Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible to receive a ranking. The weekly regional ranking by the USTFCCCA began in 2010.
The Rams will take this week off from competition to prep for the 2021 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championships, which are on tap for Saturday, Oct. 30 in Springfield, Massachusetts at Western New England.