Springfield, Mass. -- Westfield State topped the field in five events as the Owls got off to a strong start at the Springfield Invitational meet on Saturday.

Junior Lauren Gilderdale (Housatonic/Great Barrington, Mass.)  topped the shot put and took home third place honors in the 20-lb. weight throw.

Lexi Popp (Westford Academy/Westford, Mass.) got home first in the 400 meters, followed in second by Kerri Long (Weymouth, Mass.), who also won the triple jump and placed seventh in the 60 hurdles.

Rachel Farley (Wachussett/Paxton, Mass.) won the 1000 meters, and the Owls 4x800 team took the top spot at the four-team, non-scoring meet.

Westfield will compete at Rhode Island College next Saturday before breaking for finals and the semester break.