Women's Cross Country 8/27/2026 11:26:11 AM Amy Barry, Suffolk Athletic Communications

Suffolk Women’s Cross Country Opens Season in USTFCCCA National Rankings

NEW ORLEANS – For the first time in program history, Suffolk women's cross country will begin its campaign as a nationally ranked squad as the Rams came in at No. 28 in the U.S. Track & Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Preseason National Coaches Poll.

This marks the first-ever preseason national poll appearance for the Rams women and second-ever showing in program history since they emerged in the final poll of the 2025 season at No. 30.

Suffolk brings back 18 members from its first-ever national qualifying squad in 2025 that finished 30th at the NCAA Championships, while also placing a program-best fourth at the NCAA East Regional and claimed its fifth consecutive Conference of New England (CNE) Championship.

Leading the charge is 2025 CNE Runner of the Year senior Sofia Moukaddem, who returns for her final season of cross country competition after a superb showing for indoor and outdoor track & field with a pair of USTFCCCA All-America honors to her credit.

Joining Moukaddem back in blue-and-gold is all-region honoree junior Tess Drury, as well as all-conference selection sophomore Chloe Koo. Last year's point earners will be joined by a handful of experienced veterans, as well as the largest recruiting class in program history assembled by 11-year head coach Will Feldman will 21 newcomers welcomed to the fold.

Suffolk is the only CNE program in recent history to be featured in the USTFCCCA national top-30 and that remains the same in the 2026 preseason poll.

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 teams' strength with current season results (if applicable) in determining a rank-order of squad potential. Only USTFCCCA member programs are eligible to receive a ranking. Teams with provisional status within the region may be ranked.

The Rams are just over one week away from their first race of 2026, the Suffolk Short Course Classic, which is set for a Saturday, Sept. 5 at Highland Park in Attleboro, Massachusetts.