Women’s Track and Field Picked to Repeat in 2025 MASCAC Outdoor Preseason Poll
The Westfield State women’s track and field team will enter the 2025 season as the team to beat. The Owls earned the number one ranking in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Preseason Poll, as voted on by the conference's coaches with 24 total points and four first place votes.
WESTFIELD, Mass. – The Westfield State women's track and field team will enter the 2025 season as the team to beat. The Owls earned the number one ranking in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) Preseason Poll, as voted on by the conference's coaches with 24 total points and four first place votes.
The Owls secured the top spot after an excellent 2024 campaign in which they captured the MASCAC Championship title. Westfield State looks to continue its reign atop the conference, returning a deep and talented roster under the leadership of head coach Sean O'Brien and his staff, including assistant coaches Marlee Berg, Bobby White, and Mia McDonald. The Owls are in search of their second straight outdoor title.
A talented group of upperclassmen is leading the Owls this season, highlighted by standout sprinter and jumper Eliza Lee (Walpole, Mass.), a junior who played a crucial role in the team's success last year. Lee won the 800m and the triple jump at last year's outdoor championships.
Distance events will feature a deep lineup, headlined by senior Rebecca Patel (Belchertown, Mass.) and Julianne Kelly (Natick, Mass.) who each earned all-conference honors last season. Patel won the 10,000m while Kelly crossed the line first in the 3,000m steeplechase.
In the sprints and hurdles events, sophomore Devin Whalen (Marblehead, Mass.) will be a key competitor, along with first-year Jailene Felix (Westfield, Mass.), who is expected to make an immediate impact in the short-distance races.
In the field events, Bronwyn Pinsly (Las Vegas, Nev.) will look for a repeat performance in the discus, placing first and securing all-conference honors last season. Junior Emily Ottomaniello (Agawam, Mass.) tallied a first-place leap in the pole vault as well during the league's outdoor conference championship.
Last season, the Owls won three team events as well, winning the 4x100, 4x400, and 4x800 with all four athletes from the 4x800 relay team returning in Tealei Chandonnet (Dracut, Mass.), Ariann LeCours (Haverhill, Mass.), Brynne LeCours (Haverhill, Mass.), and Molly Kennedy (West Springfield, Mass.).
Westfield State is set to face tough competition in the MASCAC, with Bridgewater State and Worcester State emerging as strong contenders for the top spots. Bridgewater State, last year's championship runner-up, earned two first-place votes and 22 total points in the preseason poll, will be the Owls top challenger.
The Owls will continue their 2025 campaign this Saturday, March 29th, at the Corsair Classic in Dartmouth, Mass., and will also compete in several high-profile meets throughout the season. The MASCAC Outdoor Championship is scheduled for Friday, April 25th, where Westfield State will look to defend its title and solidify its position as the top program in the conference.
Fans can follow the Owls' at WestfieldStateOwls.com for live updates and game information.
Written by Tom Onorato – Sports Information Intern