Women's Cross Country, Rams' Pair Earn USTFCCCA Academic Accolades

2018 ALL-USTFCCCA ACADEMIC HONORS | 2018 ALL-ACADEMIC TEAMS

BOSTON – Suffolk women's cross country and junior co-captains Emily Manfra and Emma Weisse received acknowledgement for their athletic and academic efforts as they earned the 2018 All-Academic Award, given out by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Overall, 393 teams across Division III were recognized with the recognition – 178 men and 215 women. Suffolk was one of four GNAC schools appearing on the list with Colby Sawyer, Emmanuel and Norwich achievement All-Academic status as well.

For a team to be considered for this distinction, which has been presented annually since 1995-96, it must have competed and compiled a team score at an NCAA Regional Meet. The team must also have a minimum team GPA of 3.10 on a 4.0 scale.

The academic recognition is a second stragiht for Suffolk's women's cross country.

GNAC Coach of the Year Will Feldman guided the Rams to their success in his second season in Boston with a runner-up performance at the league championships followed by a 32nd-place showing at the NCAA Division III New England Regionals in Brunswick, Maine Nov. 10. The athletic accomplishments transferred into the classroom where the eight-runner roster combined for a 3.662 GPA, the second-highest of Suffolk University's 19-sport department.

Manfra and Weisse paved the way in competition and the classroom. At the conference championships, the duo maintained a 6:20 pace on Saint Joseph's (Maine)'s course to lead the 89-runner pack for the entire 5k, which Weisse finished first with a new course record of 19:38. Manfra cross the tape just two seconds behind her classmate to finish as the league's runner-up for the second time in her career.

For their impressive efforts the pair each earned all-conference accolades and Weisse became the first Ram – either male or female – to earn GNAC Runner of the Year honors and became the first Suffolk student-athlete to earn three cross country all-conference accolades.

Manfra made her mark on the regional stage where she came through the 6k chute in 22:26.54, good for 17th in the field of 399, which punched her ticket into Suffolk's history books as the first-ever runner to compete at the NCAA DIII National Championships. In Winneconne, Wisconsin Nov. 17, the Stoneham, Massachusetts, who put together a perfect 4.0 GPA in the fall of 2018, while making Rams' running history, clocked in at 22:25.6 to take 83rd out of 279.   

Weisse, meanwhile, putt together a 23:13.58 regional time to take 57th overall and cap off her junior cross country campaign.

Manfra and Weisse continued to pave the path for the Rams record book as they become the first Suffolk women to achieve the academic recognition from the USTFCCCA. They are two of three Suffolk student-athletes this season to bring home the honor along with Matyas Csiki-Fejer of the men's team.

For an individual to be considered for the recognition, he/she must hold a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher on a 4.0 scale, and place in the top 25 percent of finishers of their respective NCAA DIII Regional Championship or the top 50 percent at the NCAA DIII National Championships (top 139 finishers for the women, top 140 finishers for men).

For a complete list of individuals honors click here. To see the near 400 institutions honored for their achievements in the classroom and course, click here.