WESTFIELD, Mass. – The reign at the top of the conference is projected to continue for the Westfield State women's cross country team as the Owls are favored to win the league for the fourth straight season as part of the 2023 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Poll.

The Owls earned a total of 36 points and received a first-place vote from each of the six teams in the conference. Bridgewater State earned the final first-place vote and picked up 28 points while Fitchburg State rounded off the top three with 27 points. Votes were placed by coaches throughout the MASCAC and no team can vote for themselves in the poll.

Westfield cruised to a third-straight MASCAC title in 2022, finishing 32 points ahead of second-place Fitchburg State. Despite having no current seniors on the 2023 roster, the Owls return a plethora of talent including four All-Conference honorees. Last year's Rookie of the Year Shea Hamel (Longmeadow, Mass.) returns as she paced the Owls and crossed the tape third individually with a time of 19:28.87 at the conference title meet.

The Owls also bring back junior Ariann LeCours (Haverhill, Mass.) who placed sixth overall with a time of 19:51.67 to capture All-Conference honors.

After strong first-year campaigns, Tealei Chandonnet (Dracut, Mass.) and Julianne Kelly (Natick, Mass.) return for their sophomore year after securing All-Conference nods by placing eighth (19:55.73) and tenth (20:03.09) individually at the 2022 Championship meet.

Westfield State will open the 2023 season at the Keene State Invitational, a meet where the Owls turned in one of their three team victories last year. The meet is on Saturday, September 2 beginning at 11:00 A.M.

For full 2023 women's cross country preseason poll, CLICK HERE