Owl Women Named Preseason Favorite, Men Tied for Second in MASCAC Preseason Poll

WESTFIELD, Mass. – With the start of the indoor season this weekend, Westfield State women's track and field were selected as preseason favorites to win the indoor season in the 2025-26 MASCAC Preseason Coaches' Poll as voted on by the coaches throughout the league. The men's team enters the season in a tie for second place in the poll.

Women's Track and Field – The Owls begin the 2025-26 campaign as the favorites to win the indoor season, collecting all three first-place votes from opposing institutions for a total of nine points. Bridgewater State received the other first-place vote and seven points.

The Owls were indoor champions for the 2023-24 season and are the defending champions after last season's indoor championships were cancelled due to inclement weather.

Westfield returns senior Eliza Lee (Walpole, Mass.) who earned All-Region honors with a top triple jump of 11.48 meters, which ranked 30^th in all of Division III. Another athlete to watch for is sophomore Jailene Felix (Westfield, Mass.) who won a pair of MASCAC Rookie of the Week honors during the indoor season for her performances in the 400.

Men's Track and Field – Westfield starts the year in a tie for second place with Fitchburg State in the preseason poll, grabbing one of four first-place votes for six points. Bridgewater State is the preseason favorite, recording three first-place votes and nine points.

In the most recent indoor conference championships, the Owls placed as the runner-up to the Bears. A member of that Owls team continues to improve each season and is poised to take another leap forward in junior Ali Warsame (Chelsea, Mass.). Last season, Warsame grabbed All-USTFCCCA New England honors after finishing in the top five in the region in both the long jump (6.93m) and the triple jump (13.71m).

Senior athlete Gordon Johnson (Hanson, Mass.) enters the indoor season after a strong conclusion to last year where he took 11^th place in the 800 meters at the New England All-Divisions meet at the Reggie Lewis Center, running a personal-best time of 1:58.22 making him third among Division III runners in the field.

Both teams will compete in the indoor season opener on Saturday, December 6 as Westfield State will take part in the Springfield College Invitational from Springfield, Mass. with field events beginning at 10:30 A.M. followed by track events at 11:30 A.M.