WINTHROP, Mass. – Saint Joseph's College of Maine is set to host the GNAC Cross Country Championships for the second straight year, as the Monks will welcome the conference's 11 programs on Saturday, November 2. The women's race, which will be a 6K course for the first time in league history, will shoot off at 1:00 PM, followed by the men's 8K at 2:00 PM.
In the pre-championship coaches' poll, Suffolk University finished first overall in the women's standings, while Colby-Sawyer College was selected atop the men's standings as it looks to repeat as team champion.
On the women's side, the poll-setter Rams received five first-place votes and 114 points overall, as Suffolk is led by senior captains Emma Weisse and Emily Manfra. The duo finished first and second, respectively, at last year's meet, while Manfra went on to finish 17th out of 399 runners at regionals before finishing 83rd at nationals.
The Colby-Sawyer women finished second with four first-place votes and 105 points, followed by defending GNAC champion Emmanuel College in third place, as the Saints totaled 92 points and collected two first-place nods. Host Saint Joseph's (82 points) and Regis College (79 points) rounded out the top-five.
For the men, the Chargers earned six of the 10 first-place votes for 92 points in the poll, just ahead of Norwich University, which grabbed two first-place bids and 88 points. Suffolk University, led by reigning GNAC Rookie of the Year Matyas Csiki-Fejer, took the third spot with 84 points.
The Monks finished fourth for the men as well with 70 points, while Emmanuel took the fifth position with 62 points. For the complete poll results, please see below.
The top-seven student-athletes in each race will earn All-GNAC First Team honors, while the 8-14 finishers earn Second Team accolades. The top finisher will automatically be named the GNAC Runner of the Year and the top first-years will receive GNAC Rookie of the Year recognition.
2019 GNAC Women's Cross Country Championship Poll
1. Suffolk (5) - 114
2. Colby-Sawyer (4) - 105
3. Emmanuel (2) - 92
4. Saint Joseph's Maine - 82
5. Regis - 79
6. Norwich - 74
7. Simmons - 61
8. Johnson & Wales - 49
9. Lasell - 30
10. Saint Joseph CT - 22
11. Rivier - 18
2019 GNAC Men's Cross Country Championship Poll
1. Colby-Sawyer (6) - 92
2. Norwich (2) - 88
3. Suffolk (1) - 84
4. Saint Joseph's Maine - 70
5. Emmanuel (1) - 62
6. Regis - 47
7. Johnson & Wales - 44
8. Saint Joseph CT - 27
9. Lasell - 24
10. Rivier - 12
The Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 13 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Founded in 1995, the GNAC annually sponsors and administers 20 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunity and community involvement in an effort to enhance the student-athlete experience.
– #TheGNAC –
