BOSTON – Suffolk women's cross country will take its talents to Colfax, Wisconsin for the Blugold Invite hosted by the University of Wisconsin EAU Claire at the Whitetail Golf Course Friday, Oct. 3. The varsity 6k gets underway at 5:15 p.m., with the women's open race scheduled for 3:45 p.m.

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LAST TIME OUT
Suffolk's women's cross country secured its best finish in program history at the UMass Dartmouth Invitational as the Rams secured 11th at the Robert Dowd Cross Country Course Saturday. Sept. 20.

The Rams finished with a combined score of 326 to claim 11th in the 36-team field. The one spot out of the top-10 marked the second-best result of a NCAA Division III team at the 52nd edition of the annual meet behind only Connecticut College that took fourth. 

MORE READING: Women's Cross Country Places 11th at UMass Dartmouth Invitational 

THE HEATS

• Four different heats will race mid-afternoon Friday. 
• Competition comments with the men's 8k open at 3:00 p.m. with the women's 6k open to follow 45 minutes. The first varsity race, the men's 8k, is set for a 4:30 p.m. gun with the women's varsity to close the day at 5:15 p.m. 
• Suffolk will be featured in all, but the men's open race.  

THE COURSE
The Whitetail Golf Course is an extremely challenging course with constant rolling hills.  

THE COMPETITION
Competition will be formidable with No. 23 St. Olaf, No. 11 Carleton, No. 27 UW EAU Claire and No. 16 UW Lacrosse are all national ranked. Additionally, there are only seventh temps competing who are currently ranked top 10 in their respective regions including Suffolk.  

COACH'S QUOTE
"The outcome will come down to which teams can handle the heat and the hills the best," head coach Will Feldman said. "I would not be shocked to see several upsets and surprises in the final results and we will be pleased with a top 10 Division III finish under the conditions."  

Feldman continued, "This should be the hardest challenge of the season and exactly what we need in order to be mentally prepared for what it's going to take for us to achieve our goals at conference and regionals in November." 

RAMS TO WATCH

• Sofia Moukaddem is having a breakout season and is establishing herself for a spot at NCAAs. 
• Amy Pattelena, Tess Drury, Paige Estaphan and Grace Miller will aim to support Moukaddem with their performances. 
• Chloe Koo, Katelyn Porter, Cassie Middleton, Bailey Ford, Laina Frasier, Kathleen Sullivan, Gina Cappello, Cassie Silkoff, and Megan Dunn will round out the Rams on the course.  

RAMS REMINISCE: BLUGOLD INVITE

• Suffolk will race at the Blugold Invite for the second time, first since 2023. 
• The Rams finished 12th in the field of 25 in their first appearance at the Blugold Invite
• Individually, the best showing by a student-athlete at the Blugold Invite was by Ellie Davis, who claimed 43rd in 2023 with a 6k time of 23:45.2. 
• Amy Pattelena (23:49.3 – 46th) and Paige Estaphan (24:40.1 – 99th) are the only active Rams to have run the Whitetail Golf Course previously.  

REGIONAL RANK
Suffolk women's cross country stayed put in the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) East Rankings as Rams remained fifth in the Week 3 Edition, the national organization unveiled Tuesday. 

MORE READING: Women's Cross Country Remains Fifth in East in USTFCCCA Rankings

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
Upon its return to New England, Suffolk is scheduled to compete at the James Earley Invitational at the Stanley Park in Westfield, Massachusetts.