Women’s Cross Country Selected Second in MASCAC Preseason Poll

MASCAC Preseason Poll

WORCESTER, Mass. – The Worcester State women's cross country team has been selected to finish second in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) championship, following a second place finish in the MASCAC last season.

This year, the Blue and Gold welcome back junior Mia Rogers (N. Dighton, Mass.) and sophomore Elisabeth Olson (Wilmington, Mass.) who both earned All-Conference Accolades for finishing in the top-10 at last year's MASCAC meet.

Last season, Rogers won the Worcester City Meet Title (19:52) and came in second in the MASCAC Championships. She earned three MASCAC runner of the week awards, and in addition to earning a spot on the All-Conference team, she was tabbed to the MASCAC Fall 2016 Sportsmanship Team and also received U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) All-Academic honors.

Olson finished 10^th as a freshman in the MASCAC Championships last season in a time of 20:37.

Also returning for the Lancers is senior captain Justine Murdocca (Milford, Mass.) who also was a key runner for the team in previous years. Despite an early summer injury, she's in better shape at present than any time during her three previous cross country and track & field seasons. 

The team welcomes eight freshman to the team this season.

The women's cross country team's first meet will be next Friday (Sep. 2) as they travel to attend the Jim Sheehan Invitational at the Doyle Conservation in Leominster, Mass. The Lancers' annual Worcester City Meet is scheduled for Saturday, Sep. 23 at Moore State Park.

2017 MASCAC Women's Cross Country

Pre-Season Coaches Poll

(First Place Votes In Parentheses)

1. Westfield State (6) 36 points

2. Worcester State (1) 29 points

3. Bridgewater State 28 points

4. Fitchburg State 20 points

5. Framingham State 19 points

6. MCLA 8 points

7. Massachusetts Maritime 7 points