WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State University men's cross country team was picked to finish second overall as part of the 2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Poll as voted on by the coaches throughout the league.

The Owls earned the second overall position with a total of 29 points and one first-place receiving vote. Bridgewater State claimed the top spot with a total of 34 points and five of the seven first-place votes. Fitchburg State was selected third with 26 points while Worcester State nabbed the final first-place vote and secured 23 points.

Westfield had a strong showing at the 2022 MASCAC Championship meet with returning athletes' John Nekitopoulos (West Springfield, Mass.) and Brandon Hager (Agawam, Mass.) finishing second and third individually to help the Owls place runner-up to Bridgewater who narrowly edged Westfield by just four points.

Also returning for the Owls is junior Will Buckley (Plymouth, Mass.) and senior Dan Botte (Norfolk, Mass.) as both finished within the top 15 at last year's championship meet.

Westfield State opens the 2023 campaign at the Keene State Invitational on Saturday, September 2 at 11:00 A.M., a meet in which the Owls secured the top spot a season ago.

For full men's cross country release, CLICK HERE