BSU Men, Women Selected to Win 2018 MASCAC Outdoor Track & Field Titles

By Emily Loux, MASCAC Director of Media Relations

WESTFIELD, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University men's and women's track & field teams have been chosen by the coaches from around the conference to claim the 2018 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Outdoor Track & Field titles.

The 2018 MASCAC Indoor Track & Field champions, the Bridgewater State men look to sweep the this year's titles during the outdoor season. The Bears collected four first place votes for 16 points in this year's poll. At last season's outdoor championship, the squad claimed five league titles and the final two relays to finish second. Michael Kotleski was the MASCAC champion in the 400 meter hurdles. Joshua Higgins earned an individual medal in the 800-meter run. Joseph Kisamore earned the top spot in the 1,500-meter run while Joseph Keough won the 3,000-meter steeplechase. In the field, Cameron Williamson had the top triple jump leap in the MASCAC, good enough for the individual title.

Also last season, Lamont Haynes, Higgins, Olivier Ndikumana and Kotleski crossed the line first in the 4x400-meter relay for the MASCAC and Alliance title. In the 4x800-meter relay, Michae lSanpietro, Jacob Connor, William McKenzie and Zack Viera took home the MASCAC crown.

Last season's outdoor champions Worcester State are in second with 12 points. The Lancers took home eight individual league titles and one relay at last year's championship meet. Edward Boamoah was a dual champion in the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash. He set a new MASCAC and Alliance in the 400-meter dash. In the 100-meter dash, Jalil Gibson finished first.

On the field side, Sam Weeks was a two-time champion in the shot put and discus throw. Marcus Vieira had the best throw in the MASCAC and Alliance in the hammer throw while Justin Lewis grabbed the MASCAC crown in the high jump and Scott Page in the pole vault. The 4x100 relay team of Gibson, Charles Newman, Phillip Bynum and Jared Barros won the MASCAC title.

Sitting in third with the final first place vote is Westfield State with 11 points. The Owls landed two individual champions a year ago. Edison Perez was the 110-meter hurdle champion while Dereck Stone was the long jump champion.

Rounding out the men's poll is Fitchburg State and Massachusetts Maritime in fourth and fifth, respectively. The Falcons grabbed six points while the Buccaneers had five. Brian Amaral was a dual winner in the 5,000-meter run and 10,000-meter run in 2017. Cameron Stalters had the top throw in the javelin. For the Buccaneers, Ian Chester finished seventh in the men's javelin throw.

On the women's side, Bridgewater State collected 17 points with three first place votes for the top slot in the poll. At the 2017 MASCAC Outdoor Championship, the Bears grabbed six individual titles and the final relay. Tess Miller claimed two league crowns in the 200-meter dash and 400-meter dash. Kristyn Grattan was the first MASCAC competitor to cross the line in the 800-meter run.

In the field events, Ellie Bucknell grabbed the top spot in the MASCAC while Molly Dewar was first in the discus throw. Samantha Richner tied with Worcester State's Haley Moss for the MASCAC title in the high jump. The Bears 4x400-meter relay team of Amanda Lane, Molly McNamara, Traci Perry and Miller took home the MASCAC crown.

Tying for the second spot with the final first place votes and 12 points are Westfield State and Worcester State. Last April, the Owls finished with MASCAC individual titles in seven events and two of the three relays. Jessie Cardin was a dual winner in the 1,500 and 5,000. Lexi Popp set a new MASCAC record in the 400-meter hurdles while Kara Penney won the 3,000-meter steeplechase and Kerry O'Neil in the 10,000-meter run. On the field side, Sabrina Pray finished first in the long jump while Jaclyn Farrell was the league champ in the triple jump. The Owls also claimed the 4x100 relay with Valdemira Fernandes, Popp, Kerri Long and Pray. Crossing the line first in the 4x800 relay with a MASCAC record, were Nicole Lanoie, Autumn Brown, Lindsey Wassung and Cardin.

The Lancers finished with two individual champions at the 2017 outdoor championships. Lauren Waters was first in the 100-meter dash, while Haley Moss grabbed top honors in the high jump.

Closing out the women's poll in fourth and fifth are Fitchburg State and Massachusetts Maritime. The Falcons finished with six points in the poll. Morgan Steele took home two MASCAC honors in the hammer throw and shot put a year ago. Annie Woolley broke the MASCAC and Alliance record in the 100-meter hurdles.The Buccaneers grabbed three points in the poll. During last year's meet, Jessica Gratzer finished second in the shot put and seventh in the javelin.

Westfield State and Worcester State open their outdoor season this weekend at the Wesleyan University Invitational. Bridgewater State and Fitchburg State will compete the following weekend at the Tufts Snowflake Classic, while Mass. Maritime heads to the Eastern Connecticut Mixed Meet.

2018 MASCAC Men's Indoor Track & Field Pre-Season Coaches Poll