Reigning MASCAC Outdoor Track and Field Champions Westfield State men and women have been chosen by the coaches from around the conference to claim the 2017 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field titles.

The Westfield State women's team earned three first place votes for 15 points to top this year's poll. Last season at the MASCAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships the Owls took home eight individual honors and the top spot in the 4x800. Naloti Palma led the way with three top finishes in the shot put, discus and hammer throw, breaking the MASCAC and New England Alliance records in the discus. Ashley Monahan grabbed a MASCAC title in the 800 meter run, while Jessie Cardin 1,500 meter run and Kara Penney 3,000 meter steeplechase were the top league winners. Ashley Craig set a new MASCAC record in pole vault while Meghan Howe closed out the individual winners with a first place finish in the triple jump. The 4x800 relay quartet of Autumn Brown, Monahan, Nicole Lanoie and Cardin took home the MASCAC title in the relay.

Right behind in second with the final two first place votes and 14 points is Bridgewater State. At last season's meet, the Bears landed seven individual champions and two relays. Traci Perry was a four-time winner in the 100 meter dash, 200 meter dash and both relays. Jayci Andrews set a new MASCAC mark in the 400 meter dash while also finishing first in the long jump and racing in both relays. Danielle Poto broke a league record by less that one second in the 5,000 meter run while Rachel Ducharme was the MASCAC and Alliance champ in the 10,000 meters. Samantha Richner tied the conference record in the high jump while also running a leg in the 4x100 relay. Joining Perry, Richner and Andrews in the winning 4x100 relay was Madeline McNamara. Andrews, Perry, Amanda Lane and Abbie Pustis also won the 4x400 relay in a MASCAC record time.  

Sitting in third with 10 points is Worcester State. Dalena Le in the 400 meter hurdles and Stephanie McFadries in the javelin were the top finishers for the Lancers at the 2016 outdoor meet.

Rounding out the women's poll is Fitchburg State and Massachusetts Maritime in fourth and fifth, respectively. The Falcons grabbed seven points while the Buccaneers had four. Annie Woolley claimed the MASCAC title in the 100 meter hurdles for Fitchburg State last season. Meaghan Brain finished fourth in the javelin for Massachusetts Maritime at the 2016 outdoor championship.

On the men's side, Westfield State collected 15 points with three first place votes for the top slot in the poll. At the 2016 MASCAC Outdoor Championship, the Owls took home six individual titles and a relay. Travon Godette earned top honors in the high jump with a conference best leap and javelin honors. Esteafan Jack crossed the line first in the 400 meter dash while Kenneth Parece earned the conference 1,500 meter run crown. John Latour broke the MASCAC record in the long jump while Patrick Delisle took the top spot in the pole vault. The Owls 4x800 relay team of Jonathan Kelland, Justin Halley, Conner Gottzmann and Parece grabbed the MASCAC crown as well.

Landing in the second spot with a first place vote and 12 points is Worcester State. The Lancers were led last season by Sam Weeks who was a triple threat finishing first in the shot put, discus and hammer throw. Duy Truong claimed the 200 meter dash title.

Bridgewater State is up next in third with 10 points. Last season the Bears won six individual titles and the final two relays. Andrew Couture was the 100 meter dash champion and ran a leg on the 4x100. Josh Goehring grabbed a MASCAC title in the 800 meter run while Conor Murtagh and Kevin Sawyer earned a conference championship in the 110 meter hurdles and 400 meter hurdles, respectively. Joe Keough crossed the line first in the 3,000 meter steeplechase and Cameron Williamson leaped his way to the MASCAC crown in the triple jump. The 4x100 relay team of Couture, Murtagh, Williamson and Alex Goss won first place in the league while the Bears also took home the conference title in the 4x400.

Closing out the men's poll in fourth and fifth are Fitchburg State and Massachusetts Maritime. The Falcons took home the final first place vote for nine points. Last season Brian Amaral was a dual winner in the 5,000 meter and 10,000 meters. The Buccaneers grabbed four points in the poll. During last year's meet, all three of the Massachusetts Maritime relays finished in the top five of their respective races.

Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Massachusetts Maritime and Worcester State open their outdoor season on March 25 at the Bridgewater State Invitational.

2016-17 MASCAC Men's Outdoor Track & Field Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

2016-17 MASCAC Women's Outdoor Track & Field Pre-Season Coaches Poll
(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

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