Westfield State University track and field hosts the annual Jerry Gravel Invitational on Saturday, with events beginning at 11:00 a.m. The Owls' only home meet of the season is contested on campus at the track which also bears the name of the Westfield State coaching legend.
Senior distance runner Tim Forrest highlights the Owls' competitors. Forrest was named the MASCAC indoor track athlete of the week in early April, after winning the 10,000 meters in a time of 33:15.68 at the Corsair Classic Invitational.
Junior Brandon Leclair, another distance specialist, took first place in the 3000 meters at the MASCAC indoor championship meet this past season, and set a meet record in the 5000 meters at the Rhode Island College Invitational earlier in the year.
Junior William Canty, who set a school record in the heptathlon this past indoor season, will be coming off two days of competition at the Northeast Multi Events meet. Canty is a jack of all trades, competing and scoring in six different events at the MASCAC indoor championship meet, including a win in the 60 meter hurdles. He could have an impact in the scoring in the hurdles and jumps.
Sophomore Mitch Maslowski will look to lead the way in the sprint for the Owls. Maslowski placed second in the 200 at the Coast Guard Invitational this outdoor season, running a 22.13 and qualifying for the New England Championships. He was named the MASCAC track athlete of the week this past week.
Junior Shea Hiltz, junior Zac Bentley, and sophomore Conner Grady were all members of the 4x800 team that set a MASCAC conference record last outdoor season with a time of 8:02.64.
The meet features, the Owls, MASCAC foe Bridgewater State, Utica (NY) College, and UMass-Dartmouth, as well as athletes from Division II AIC, and Holyoke and Springfield Community Colleges.
The meet is named after coach Jerry Gravel founded the Westfield State men's track and field program in 1969, and developed it into one of the most successful division 3 programs in Massachusetts. Gravel was the head coach of the Westfield State Track and Field program for 28 seasons before retiring in 1997. From 1972 to 1997, Gravel won 20 out of 26 MASCAC championships, including 13 consecutive titles within that span. He also founded the Cross Country program at Westfield State, and coached 32 All-American student-athletes in his time as head coach.