SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – History was made Saturday afternoon as Suffolk women's cross country ran a memorable first-ever Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) Championship race as the Rams surprised the field and claimed the 2021 CCC crown Saturday afternoon at Western New England.
Suffolk registered 73 points to narrowly edge out the University of New England, who scored a 76. The Rams saw a trio of Rams runners place inside the top 15, while the Nor'Easters had just two pick up all-league status. Endicott (81), Salve Regina (88) and Roger Williams (96) rounded out the top five teams on the championship course.
Gwen Koziara led the way for the blue-and-gold as the freshman finished fourth with a 6k time of 24:06. Right behind her, two seconds to be exact, with a fifth-place finish, was sophomore Sydney Fogg. Senior Skyler Spanbauer clocked a 25:11 to take 11th and secure her second all-league accolade of her collegiate career to go along with her 2019 All-Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) distinction.
Sarah Roberts and Christina Baggitt completed Suffolk's scoresheet. The former came through the chute in 25:42 for 19th, while the latter crossed the tape in 27:04, good for 34th in the 92-runner field.
Therese McKeagney was on the heels of Baggitt, just one second behind her classmate to take 35th. Jocelyn Triscik slid into 45th with a time of 29:09.
The conference championship is the first-ever for Suffolk cross country not just the women's squad. The CCC title is also a first for Suffolk University after the league transitioned into the league as the 10th full time member in 2020-21.
After guiding his squad to glory Will Feldman was voted by his peers as the 2021 CCC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year. The conference distinction is the sixth-year head coach's third with a back-to-back GNAC Coach of the Year nods in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Suffolk will not concentration of the 2021 NCAA Division III East Regionals that the Rams are hosting at Franklin Park Saturday, Nov. 13.
2021 CCC WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Team Scores
1. Suffolk – 73
2. University of New England – 76
3. Endicott – 81
4. Salve Regina – 88
5. Roger Williams – 96
6. Gordon – 111
7. Wentworth – 205
8. Western New England – 220
Curry – DNS
Nichols – DNC
All-CCC
1. Rachel Brennan, Gordon – 23:36
2. Jasmine Syed, University of New England – 23:47
3. Amanda Naylor, Roger Williams – 24:06
4. Gwen Koziara, Suffolk – 24:06
5. Sydney Fogg, Suffolk – 24:08
6. Caitlin Boufford, Roger Williams – 24:21
7. Cassandra Cosma, Endicott – 24:40
8. Cate Norton, Salve Regina – 24:47
9. Kelsee Gladu, University of New England – 25:01
10. Abigail Baier, Gordon – 25:05
11. Skyler Spanbauer, Suffolk – 25:11
12. Brianna am Ende, Endicott – 25:16
13. Carolyn Day, Gordon - 25:16
14. Heather McKee, Salve Regina – 25:20
15. Bre Shipman, Salve Regina – 25:23
Runner of the Year – Rachel Brennan, Gordon
Rookie of the Year – Rachel Brennan, Gordon
CCC Scholar-Athletes – Abigail Baier, Gordon/Samantha Lewis, Western New England
Coach of the Year – Will Feldman, Suffolk
Team Sportsmanship - Gordon