WESTFIELD, Mass. – After a year's hiatus, the MASCAC Indoor Track and Field Championship has returned with Westfield State men's and women's track and field hosting the meet at Smith College in Northampton, Mass. on Saturday, February 10.
Field events will begin at 10:30am with track events starting at noon. These events will feature all of the top athletes in the conference and Westfield State has a number of athletes who will be participating and competing for the championship on both the men's and women's side. Coming into the championship, both Owls' teams are anticipated to be in a tightly contested battle as both teams were selected second in the MASCAC Preseason Coaches' Poll to Bridgewater State.
WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
On the women's side there are a number of track events that are projected to be decided by seconds and should end up playing a massive role in deciding the team champion.
In the Women's 3000m, every single qualifier for this event goes to Westfield State as the Owls will sweep all possible points for the event. The fastest time recorded this year was Shea Hamel (Longmeadow, Mass.) with a time of 10:49.79. The other participants for this event are Alison Downin (Hudson, Mass.), Julianne Kelly (Natick, Mass.), Rebecca Patel (Belchertown, Mass.), Molly Kennedy (West Springfield, Mass.), and Erin Vasu (Longmeadow, Mass.).
In the women's 800-meter race, Bridgewater State's Kate Brown has recorded the fastest time among all runners this season with a time of 2:33.56. Westfield State's Brynne LeCours (Haverhill, Mass.) and Eliza Lee (Walpole, Mass.) are expected to be neck and neck with Brown, with LeCours recording a time of 2:34.10 and Lee recording a time of 2:35.60 this season. LeCours is trying to repeat her success as she finished in first place in the 800m run as a rookie last spring in the outdoor event.
The women's 60m is another event that is expected to play a factor in the outcome of the championship between the Owls and Bears. The fastest time of this event recorded this season was from Bridgewater State's Alison McDonough with a time of 7.75. A number of Owls' runners are expected to be competing for that top spot, which include Delaney Parker (Orange, Mass.) and Paige Moroney (Sterling, Mass.). Parker's fastest time this year was recorded at 8.10 and Moroney's fastest time was 8.22.
MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD
In the men's one-mile run, senior John Nekitopoulos (West Springfield. Mass.) is ranked at the top of the MASCAC and 11th in the Mideast Region. Nekitopoulos recorded a time 4:20.36 in the mile this season. Nekitopoulos will also be participating in the 1000m event, where he recorded the fastest time in the conference in this event as well with a time of 2:37.79.
The 800m is expected to be a two-man race between Bridgewater State's Kevin McBirney and Westfield State's Gordon Johnson (Hanson, Mass.). McBirney's fastest time this year was recorded at 1:57.39 and Johnson's fastest time was 1:59.95.
For the men's triple jump, Westfield State first-year Ali Warsame (Chelsea, Mass.) will be competing for the top spot. Warsame has recorded the third farthest jump this season at 13.13 meters and is only 0.4 meters behind the longest leap of the season in the MASCAC, recorded by Eric Shimiyimana of Fitchburg State. Warsame is seventh overall in the Mideast Region in the event.
LIVE STATS AND RESULTS
Live stats will be available for the event on westfieldstateowls.com and live.ic4atrack.com. Visit WestfieldStateOwls.com at the conclusion of the meet for postgame recap of tomorrow's events.
UP NEXT
Qualifying athletes from Saturday's MASCAC Championship meet will advance to the New England Division III Championships which will be held at Tufts University in Medford, Mass. beginning on Friday, February 23.
Westfield State will participate in the Wheaton Invite prior to the DIII Championships on Saturday, February 17.