NEW ORLEANS – After its season-opening performance at the Short Course Classic, Suffolk women's cross country captured its first Top-Three regional ranking in program history Tuesday afternoon as the Rams were tabbed third in the East in the latest edition of the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Poll.
Third is the highest ranking for the blue-and-gold in program history, upstaging the previous mark of fourth, which they achieved twice with the latest the 2025 USTFCCCA Preseason Rankings Aug. 26, 2025.
Suffolk made its regional poll debut in the Week 7 edition of the 2021 campaign and has been present in all but one since.
The Rams are one of two Conference of New England (CNE) programs to be recognized in the Week 1 edition as the University of New England took ninth in the East. Gordon received votes in the same region as Suffolk and the Nor'Easters as well.
Suffolk shined in its 2025 debut with a fourth-place performance at its own Short Course Classic at Highland Park's Mark Coogan Cross Country Course in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The finish was the best by a NCAA Division III program on the 3k course.
The USTFCCCA Regional Cross Country Coaches' Rankings are determined subjectively by a single member coach in each respective region. The regional representative is tasked with weighing returning team's strengths with current season results, when applicable, to determine a ranking-order by squad potential. Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible to receive a ranking. The weekly ranking by the USTFCCCA began in 2010.
After a week away from competition, Suffolk returns to action this Saturday, Sept. 20 at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational.