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WSU track and field teams sweep MASCAC championships

Date: 5/1/2014

SPRINGFIELD – The Westfield State University (WSU) women’s track and field team had a few double winners, including a pair of Springfield natives – senior sprinter Targie Gervais and freshman distance runner Ashley Monahan as the Owls captured the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASCAC) championship on April 27.

WSU blew away the competition with 224 points. Worcester State placed second with 192 points followed by Bridgewater State (167), Fitchburg State (48), and Massachusetts Maritime (1).

Gervais, a three-time national qualifier and two-time All-American, sprinted to victories in the 100 (12.32) and 200 (25.78) meter dashes. Monahan finished first in the 400 meters (60.78) and 800 meter run (2:22.77).

Monahan was also part of the team’s 4 x 800 meter relay.

Also finishing first for the Owls were junior Olivia Marshall in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (12:05.63), and the 4 x 100 (Meg McNamara, Amy Campbell, Megan Faunce, Kat Palso) and the 4 x 800 relay (Cassidy Noonan, Jaime Lyons, Adrianne Stelmack, Ashley Monahan) squads.

Sophomore Meg McNamara also had a stellar day. She finished a close second in the 100 hurdles, running an excellent time of 15.39 in the preliminaries and a 15.49 in the finals. McNamara also earned valuable points in the 400 hurdles (5th), high jump (6th), and long jump (4th).

Also placing second were: Marie Gulino (400), Cassidy Noonan (800), Jenn Asci (1,500), Andrea Hicks (5,000), Megan Erickson (steeplechase) and Kat Palso (triple jump).

The men’s team also won their championship, giving the Owls a clean sweep.

WSU captured eight first places and nine second places in the 21-event championship and displayed its overall depth by earning points in all but two events. The Owls’ depth was extremely evident in the six distance events where they amassed 116 points, more than half their 219 team total.

West Springfield’s Tim Shea earned an individual title in the 10,000 meter run (32:48.82), while Chicopee natives Brian Garcia (shot put), and Zack Delisle (pole vault) earned second place finishes.

Sophomore Travon Godette performed extremely well for the Owls. The versatile sophomore won the javelin with a sensational throw of 203-2 that more than likely punches his ticket to the NCAA Division III national championships. Godette also finished first in the high jump (6-4), fourth in the pole vault, and fifth in the 110 hurdles.

Westfield’s other MASCAC champions were freshman Tevin Cintron in the 800 meter run (1:57.89), senior Mike Kelleher in the 3,000 meter steeplechase (9:47.20) and freshman Steve Sam in the discus (148-6).

Earning other key second place finishes for the Owls were: Stephen Parece (800), Matt Moussamih (1,500), Skelly (5,000), Chris Williams (10,000), Steve Connolly (steeplechase) and John Tomlin (high jump and triple jump).

The New England Alliance championship was hosted in conjunction with the MASCAC meet. The WSU women placed second with 114 points trailing Southern Maine (138.5 points). Also participating were: Worcester State (108), University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston (88), Bridgewater State (79), Keene State (78), UMass Dartmouth (76), Rhode Island College (63.5), Eastern Connecticut (56), and Fitchburg (17).

The men finished a close third with 121 points behind Bridgewater (134.33) and UMass Dartmouth (125). Southern Maine (112.33) was fourth followed by Worcester State (84), Rhode Island College (63), Keene State (59), Fitchburg (47), Eastern Connecticut (43), UMass Boston (17.33), and Massachusetts Maritime (12).