Good news about a pair of Westfield State Owls alumni, as Jessie Cardin finished as the top American woman at the Utica (NY) Boilermaker 15k race, perhaps the nation's most popular and notable race at the distance, and hockey's Casey Mignone is oh his way to a new coaching positionon in Muskegeon, Mich.

Cardin competed with the elite women in the field that included nearly 8,500 runners across all divisions.  She placed fifth among women, just 21 seconds behind former World Marathon Champion Edna Kiplagat, and less than a minute back of women's champion Veronica Loleo, with Cardin completing the race in 50:27.

A native of Sutton, Mass., Cardin has been competing at the elite level for several years since graduating from Westfield State in 2018, and participated in the 2024 US Marathon Olympic Trials.

Mignone continues a journey in hockey coaching that has seen stops at the collegiate, professional and junior levels.   Originally from Ramsey, N.J., Mignone joins the staff of the Muskegeon Lumberjacks of the USHL for 2025, after spending the last two seasons as an assistant coach for NCAA Division I University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Mignone was a member of the Owls hockey team's inaugural season in 2008-09, after transferring from Lebanon Valley College.  He was an all-MASCAC player for Westfield State as a senior in 2009-10 when he led the Owls with 17 goals.