Westfield, Mass.— Reigning outdoor champions Bridgewater State have been picked by the men’s and women’s coaches from around the conference to claim their third straight Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Outdoor Track and Field titles during the 2023 campaign.

On the men’s side, Bridgewater State claimed three first place votes in this year’s poll. During the 2022 MASCAC Championship, the Bears had 12 individual event champions and look to Corey Stalters who broke his own school record in the javelin with a distance of 63.19m and earn a spot in the NCAA Championships. 

Westfield State is up next in the poll in second place. They finished second at last year’s championship. Returning is Shane Clark who placed second in the javelin with a season-best toss of 55.52 meters, second in the pole vault at 3.10 meters, and sixth in the discus in 38.73. 

Fitchburg State nabbed the third spot in this year’s poll. The Falcons won three individual titles at the 2022 conference meet. Taban Manyok notched three separate second-place finishes in the 1500 meters (4:10.62), the 800 meters (1:59.99), and the 5000 meters (16:07.49).

Worcester State comes in fourth in the 2023 preseason poll. During the 2022 Championship, Daniel Clark placed fifth in the men’s 800 meter run with a time of 2:05.77 and was a member of the 4x400 meter relay that was fifth.

Rounding out the men’s poll is Massachusetts Maritime. The Buccaneers Ja’iel Johnson returns after finishing seventh in the 100 meter dash (11.38) while helping the Buccaneers 4x100 meter relay team to a second place finish at last year’s championship. 

On the women’s side, Bridgewater State collected five of the six first place votes for the top slot in the poll. The Bears took home 12 individual titles and all three relay crowns during last year’s championship. Returning is Abbi Peterson who earned a MASCAC individual medal in the high jump with a top clearing of 1.60m. She qualified for the NCAA Championship earlier last season in the event as well.

 

Westfield State takes home the final first place vote for the second slot in the poll. The Owls finished second as a team in 2022. Vicky Marin won the triple jump (11.11 meters), one of seven events she competed in on the day. She placed third in high jump (1.55,), second in long jump (5.26m), third in the 100 hurdles, fourth in the 400 hurdles, and was part of the Owls 4x100 relay which placed second, and finally part of the 4x400 relay where the Owls were third.

 

Worcester State comes in next on the poll in third. The Lancers were the third place team at last year’s meet. Riley Sanderson took home an individual crown in the javelin with a top heave of 42.66m.  Her efforts also saw her qualify for the NCAA Championships in 2022.

 

The Falcons of Fitchburg State are the fourth team in this year’s poll. Last season Ephemian Bailey earned a second-place score in both the shot put (10.74m) and the discus (35.31m) for the Falcons.

 

Closing out the women’s poll in fifth and sixth are Framingham State and Massachusetts Maritime. For the Rams, Emily Newcomb finished first in the 3,000m steeplechase with a time of 12:43.07 to earn individual honors. Alyssa Grieco crossed the line second in the 400m hurdles with a time of 1:09.65.

 

Bridgewater State, Fitchburg State, Framingham State, Massachusetts Maritime and Worcester State begin their outdoor season on Saturday at the BSU Bears Invitational while Westfield State kicks off the season as the Wesleyan Spring Classic. 

 

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. Bridgewater State (3) - 15 points

2. Westfield State (2) - 12 points

3. Fitchburg State - 10 points

4. Worcester State - 8 points

5. Massachusetts Maritime - 5 points