Women’s Cross Country Places Fourth at Bates Invitational

AUBURN, Maine – Suffolk women's cross country faced some stiff competition over the weekend and excelled as the Rams wrapped up a fourth-place finish at the Bates Invitational at Roy's Golf Center. 

The blue-and-gold was joined on the 5k course by six foes that were all featured in the week one edition of the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) East Regional Poll, with a pair in the latest national rankings as well. 

Suffolk, who entered the week eighth in the East, took fourth with 99 points ahead of Colby (118) and Bowdoin (128), who were ranked ninth and sixth, respectively in the region.  

Invite host, No. 16 Bates easily won the meet with a 35 with No. 26 Tufts (56) in second and WPI (77) rounding out the top three.

Graduate student Ellie Davis landed on top the podium in third as she coasted through the finisher's chute in 19:14.0. 

Sophomore Amy Pattelena was just about 34 seconds behind her teammate to land just outside the top-10 in 11th. 

Senior Sydney Fogg's 20:30.1 was good for 27th with Sarah Roberts three spots behind her classmate in 30th as she clocked a 20:32.9.Paige Estaphan was featured in that mix as well in 34th with a time of 20:38.8. 

Junior Emily Concepcion and Malory Taylor contributed to Suffolk's team score as well. The former logged a 22;08.9 to finish 69th, while the latter's time of 23:20.4 put the freshman in 80th. 

Rams' rookies Janelle Bryant (26:48.6) and Maria Gallant (28:02.1) raced the event in Vacation Land as well.  

DEBUTS

• Estaphan raced collegiate for the first time. 
• Bryant, Concepcion, Gallanta, Pattelena and Taylor all ran a cross country 5k for the first time in their collegiate careers.
• Davis competed in a 5k as a Ram for the first time.

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk, who is ranked in eighth in the east in week one of the USTFCCCA regional poll, bested Bowdoin, who sits sixth in the latest regional ranking.
• The Rams raced a 5k for the first time this season. 
• Every Suffolk student-athlete to compete Sunday ran a 5k for the first time in their Suffolk and/or collegiate careers. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk jet sets to Colfax, Wisconsin, Friday, Sept. 29 for the Blugold Invite at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.