BOSTON – After a week off, Suffolk men's and women's cross country returns to action this weekend at the 40th Geneseo Mike Woods Invitational Saturday, Oct. 2. The women's 6k starts action at the National Warplane Museum at 11 a.m., with the men's 8k following at 12 p.m. 

SOCIAL SAYINGS
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SUFFOLK ATHLETICS 2021-22 FAN POLICY
Suffolk University Athletics, following guidance from the University's health and safety protocols, Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), Centers for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, plans to allow fans to attend home athletic contests during the 2021-22 academic and athletic year.

Fans, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, can attend games. They must be masked the entire time they are on campus, pursuant to institutional policy, and complete a health screening form at the security desk of each building upon arrival. This policy applies to home contests played on campus at the Ridgeway Building's Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court, as well as the Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink and the Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink.

For outdoor outings, specifically at East Boston Memorial Park, fans are asked to respect COVID safety protocols. At this time, masks will not be mandated for fans no matter vaccinated status at outdoor venues.

MORE READING: Suffolk Athletics Announces Fan Policy for 2021-22

LAST TIME OUT [ MEN ]
Matyas Csiki-Fejer anchored the Suffolk men's cross country squad to a sixth-place showing at the 48th UMass Dartmouth Invitational Saturday morning at the Coach Robert Dowd Cross Country Course on UMass Dartmouth's campus. 

MORE READING: Csiki-Fejer Wins, Cross Country Finishes Sixth at Robert 'Buddy' Harris UMass Dartmouth Invitational

LAST TIME OUT [ WOMEN ]
Suffolk women's cross country had one of the youngest rosters competing on the Coach Robert Dowd Cross Country Course Saturday and the Rams managed to finish 13th in the 30-team field at the Robert 'Buddy' Harris UMass Dartmouth Invitational.

MORE READING: Women's Cross Country Takes 13th at Robert 'Buddy' Harris UMass Dartmouth Invitational

INVITATIONAL INFORMATION
The Mike Woods Invitational, an annual event in its 40th year, is run at the National Warplane Museum course.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• 10:40 AM        National Anthem 
• 11:00 AM        Women's Race (6k)
• 12:00 PM        Men's Race (8k)
• 1:00 PM          Award Ceremony

THE COURSE
The course at the National Warplane Museum is entirely grass on a flat 2k loop course. 

THE FIELD
As of Thursday, there are nearly 500 men and just over 415 women representing over 34 institutions entered to run in the Empire State Saturday. Suffolk is the only representative of the East region on either the men's side with the bulk of the opponents hailing from Niagara, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-East and Great Lakes regions, respectively.  

On the men's side, the a baker's dozen programs are ranked regionally in the latest United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches association including Suffolk. The field also features nationally ranked foes in No. 4 Geneseo, No. 17 Otterbein and No. 27 Middlebury.  

The women, meanwhile, will have their work cut out for themselves as nationally ranked No. 13 Geneseo, No. 15 Middlebury, No. 26 RIT and No. 29 Rochester will be on the course in Geneso, New York. 

RANK AND FILE
One week into the 2021 Suffolk men's cross country season, the Rams' program has made in's inaugural debut on the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) regional rankings as the national organization unveiled in an announcement made Tuesday afternoon. In the week 1 edition of the weekly coaches' poll, the blue-and-gold appeared in the top 10 in the East.

MORE READING: Men's Cross Country Earns First-Ever USTFCCCA Regional Ranking 

WHAT'S AHEAD?
Columbus Weekend will be a rest stretch for the blue-and-gold as it prepares for the Suffolk Invite Saturday, Oct. 16. The Rams annual event at Franklin Park will also serve as the Battle for Boston Common, a head-to-head battle with Emerson.