Cross Country Heads to Early Bird Invitational to Open 2019 Season

BOSTON – The Suffolk men's and women's cross country teams lift the lid on their 2019 campaign on Saturday, Aug. 31, as the Rams head to Keene, New Hampshire for the Early Bird Invitational The women will race the 5k at the Owl Athletic Complex at 10:00 a.m. with the men's 8k gun being fired at 10:30 a.m. 

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FALL BACK
Both squads had record setting 2018 campaigns with runner-up finishes at the GNAC Championships. On the conference championship course, Emma Weisse became the first-ever Ram to win the meet in program history with Emily Manfra following her classmate as the course's runner on. On the men's side, Matyas Csiki-Fejer ran to a fourth-place finish, good for all-league status as well as GNAC Rookie of the Year Honors, another first in the Rams' record books.  

After GNACs, the Rams' men and women went on to both post team scores at regionals, marking a first in program history.  

Individually, the program saw its first-ever student-athlete compete at nationals when Manfra made the trip to Winneconne, Wisconsin, Nov. 17, 2018.  

RAMS ROSTER [ MEN ] 
The 2019 edition of the Suffolk men's cross country squad is the largest known in program history with 21 runners on roster. 

RAMS ROSTER [ WOMEN ]
Suffolk's squad is comprised of 14 runners divided in half of returners and newcomers.  

RAMS RETURNERS [ MEN ]
A year ago, Suffolk's lineup featured 10 freshmen headline by the 2018 GNAC Rookie of the Year Matyas Csiki-Fejer. Nine of those runners are back in Rams' blue-and-gold this season including Csiki-Fejer.

RAMS RETURNERS [ WOMEN ] 
Emily Manfra and Emma Weisse are back for their final go in blue-and-gold. The two have made their names known on the conference, regional and national level. A year ago, the pair went one (Weisse), two (Manfra) at the GNAC Championships and look to repeat again this season.  

RAMS RINGLEADERS [ MEN ] 
For the first-time in the Will Feldman Suffolk men's cross country era, the head coach has tabbed a contingent to lead as captains in sophomores Matyas Csiki-Fejer, Nic Malm and Hunter Toyoda.

MORE READING: Sophomore Trio to Lead Men's Cross Country as Captains in 2019 

RAMS RINGLEADERS [ WOMEN ]
Will Feldman, the head coach of cross country/track & field, has announced that Suffolk women's cross country seniors Emily Manfra and Emma Weisse will lead the Rams in 2019 as co-captains, their second year as captains. 

MORE READING: Manfra, Weisse Begin Second Term as Women's Cross Country Captains

ROOKIE RAMS [ MEN ] 
Ten newcomers joined the Rams' ranks as newcomers for the 2019 season. The group, which is comprised of nine freshmen and one graduate student, hails from two states and three countries. 

MORE READING: 10 to Join Men's Cross Country for 2019 Season 

ROOKIE RAMS [ WOMEN ]
Five additions were added to boost the 2019 Rams' roster.

The five members of the Class of 2023 hail from three states and Kenya. Making the cross country commute are Savannah Goddeeris and Marin Stamer who traveled from Imlay City, Michigan, and Big Bear City, California, respectively. Mebra Lubukha journey across the Atlantic from Kenya, while Bay State native's Sarah Lawton and Michelle Riley remained local. 

MORE READING: Women's Cross Country Introduces Five First-Years

GEOGRAPHY 101 [ MEN ]
Suffolk's men's cross country team has one of the most diverse make-ups across the Rams' 19-varsity sports with 21 athletes hailing from seven states and three countries.

The bulk of the roster is Bay State products with a dozen Massachusetts natives. California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Missouri and Washington are each represented by one runner, respectively. Internationally, Rams have flown in from England, France and Kenya. 

GEOGRAPHY 101 [ WOMEN ]
The Rams roster is split in half between Massachusetts locals, state side native and one Kenyan. In addition to the Bay State, one student-athlete hails California, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont. 

CLASS CATEGORIES [ MEN ]
The Rams' 21-runner roster is not only the largest in program history, but it could also be the youngest with 90.4 percent of the makeup being underclassmen in nine true freshmen and 10 sophomores. With no seniors, the veteran leadership falls onto the lone junior, Nicholas Nunez. A graduate student, Erik Hill, rounds out the roster, but he too is new to Suffolk and will make his blue-and-gold debut in 2019. 

CLASS CATEGORIES [ WOMEN ]
Suffolk's veterans make up just a quartet of the 14-runner roster with a pair from the junior and senior classes, respectively. The 10 underclassmen are split down the middle between sophomores and freshman.

COACH'S CORNER
Will Feldman returns for his fourth season at the helm of the Suffolk cross country and track & field programs.

He has brought the Rams to regional and national success in his short term at the helm, coaching the first-ever track & field All-American in Emily Manfra, who accomplished the feat in the mile a year ago.

A year ago, Feldman was recognized by his peers for his efforts as the 2019 GNAC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year, the first-ever Suffolk head coach to be bestowed the honor.

Aiding Feldman as assistant coaches this season are Josh Brodin and Zeke Smith. 

THE COURSE
Both races – the women's two mile and men's 5k – will take place at the Owl Athletic Complex. 

THE FIELD
A competitive field on both side with 11 teams taking the course in the Granite State. Joining Suffolk in New Hampshire is Eastern Connecticut, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Lesley, Mount Holyoke, New England College, Nichols, Springfield, Western New England, and the host's, Keene State. 

WHAT'S NEXT? 
The Rams will take the next two weekends off and are set to be back in action at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational Saturday, Sept. 21.