Fitchburg State Cross Country Earn Top Four In Pre-Season Poll

FITCHBURG, Mass. (August 23, 2013) – The Fitchburg State men’s and women’s cross country teams were recently ranked among the top four teams in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference (MASACAC) Pre-Season Coaches Poll as voted by the league coaches.

The Fitchburg State men’s team finished third overall in the rankings with 49 total points, while the women came in fourth with a total of 41 points.

On the men’s side, Bridgewater State is looking to defend their title from last year, capturing five first place votes to amass 60 points in this year’s poll to narrowly edge out second place Westfield State’s total of 59 points, which include the three remaining first place votes. Fitchburg State and Worcester State followed in third and fourth place with 49 and 39 points, respectively. Massachusetts Maritime was selected to finish in fifth place with 28 points just ahead of MCLA’s sixth place total of 25 points. Framingham State and Salem State round out this year’s poll in seventh place with 14 points each.

On the women’s side, nine-time defending champion Westfield State captured six first place votes to amass 61 points in this year’s poll, while Bridgewater State collected 54 points that included one first place vote for second place. Worcester State, which received the other first place vote, is next in third place with 51 points, while Fitchburg State and Massachusetts Maritime followed in fourth and fifth place, respectively, with 41 and 36 points. Framingham State collected sixth place with 18 points, while Salem State and MCLA rounded out this year’s poll in seventh place with 17 points each

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation’s oldest Division III men’s and women’s playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men’s ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University will join the conference as an affiliate member in football beginning in 2013-14.

The Fitchburg State men’s and women’s cross country teams open their 2013 season on Saturday, August 31st as they travel to Keene State College at 10:45 a.m.