Women's Cross Country selected 7th in MASCAC preseason poll

Westfield, Mass.—The Westfield State Owls have been selected to win the 2016 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference women's cross country championship as voted on by the seven coaches from around the league. The Owls claimed six of the seven first place votes for 36 points.

For the second straight year, Jess Cardin led the squad at the MASCAC Championship as the top finisher to earn the MASCAC Runner of the Year and leading the Owls to the championship. Ashley Monahan and Megan Erickson joined Cardin as All Conference honorees.

Worcester State lands in second with 29 points. The Lancers finished third at last year's meet. Mia Rogers led the squad with a fourth place finish to not only earn All-Conference honors, but also the MASCAC Rookie of the Year award as the top first time performer. Bridgewater State is up next in third with 26 points. The Bears were runner-up last season during the 2015 meet. Danielle Poto was the first one to cross the line for the team in second place to take home AllConference honors.

Grabbing the final first place vote is Fitchburg State with 22 points for fourth place. The Falcons as a team finished fourth last season with Nicole Gaffney grabbing an All-Conference spot with a sixth place finish. Sitting in fifth place is Framingham State with 17 points. The Rams crossed the line fifth as a team last season. Taylor Roberts was the top finisher for the squad in fifth place to earn a spot on the All-Conference team.

Closing out the 2016 preseason poll are Massachusetts Maritime and MCLA in sixth and seventh with 10 and seven points, respectively. The Buccaneers and Trailblazers finished sixth and seventh at the 2015 meet. 

The MASCAC cross country season begins on September 3 when six of the seven MASCAC schools start their quest towards the MASCAC Championship.

 2016 MASCAC Women's Cross Country Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. Westfield State (6) 36 points
2. Worcester State 29 points
3. Bridgewater State 26 points
4. Fitchburg State 22 points
5. Framingham State 17 points
6. Massachusetts Maritime 10 points
7. MCLA 7 points