The Worcester State University women’s outdoor track & field Class of 2020 team missed out on its final season, but luckily got to compete in at least its indoor season. The Lancers were supposed to compete in the MASCAC Championships last weekend, and the Worcester State Athletic Department would like to honor the 11 members of the senior class who were unable to go for their final title.
Four members of the Class of 2020 won MASCAC Championships in cross country as sophomores and juniors, and the group combined to win six individual MASCAC titles in their time with the Lancers. The group also boasts three school record holders.
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The first Lancer senior, from Marlborough, Mass., is Emily Dickson.
Emily was a four-year member of the Worcester State cross country and track & field teams, competing primarily in distance events. A personal best time of 43:21.93 in the 10,000 meter run was good for fourth at the MASCAC Outdoor Championships in the 2019,
“Emily was the unwavering supporter of the 10k,” says head cross country coach DJ Raboin. “A fun and compassionate teammate, Emily was always there for her fellow teammates regardless of how she performed on the day.“
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The next Lancer senior, from Orange, Conn., is Megan Foley.
Megan was a distance runner for the Lancers, competing on both the cross country and track & field teams as well. Megan set a pair of personal bests at this past winter’s MASCAC Indoor Championships, led by a 19:00.14 time in 5,000 meter run, good for second in the conference.
“Megan is a dark horse who found her stride during the crosscountry season and never looked back,” said Coach Raboin. “Megan had the ability to lift up both her teammates and her competitors.”
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Worcester State’s next senior, and the lone women’s senior thrower, from Ipswich, Mass., is Carina Frontiero.
Carina has had a strong four-year career for the Lancers, competing in six different events in her time in the blue and gold. Carina got over to a huge start to her senior year with a personal best heave of 11.64 meters in the shot put at the Emmanuel College Indoor Opener on December 7, placing third out of 42 competitors in the event.
“During her time with the program, Carina has brought a work ethic and focus that has helped both herself and her teammates get better with each practice and meet,” said assistant track & field coach and throws specialist Shawn McCabe. “A pleasure to coach and collaborate with, Carina’s hard work helped her to cross off many of the goals she set for herself throughout her time at Worcester State both in the classroom and also in the throwing ring.”
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The fourth senior being honored today, from Auburn, Mass., is Carrie Girardin.
Carrie only competed in her senior season for the Lancers on the cross country and indoor track & field teams, but played an important role in the team’s success. A fifth place finish in the 600 meter run at the MASCAC Indoor Championships not only scored points for the Lancers, but set a personal best for Carrie at 1:51.21.
“Although her senior year was her only year of competition, Carrie made a direct impact on her teammates,” said Coach Raboin. “She led my example with her strong work ethic and charismatic attitude.”
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The next Lancer senior to be recognized, from Londonderry, N.H., is Courtney Guay.
Courtney will graduate from Worcester State in the program’s history book, as her 4x800 meter relay team broke the program record at the New England Indoor Championships in 2019. The same relay team also won the MASCAC Individual Championship in the same season. She was also a member of Worcester State’s two MASCAC Champion cross country teams.
“Courtney has been a strong and long-standing mid-distance runner for the Worcester State program,” said Coach Raboin. “On top of her running accolades, she works extremely hard off the track, and will be continuing her education at the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.”
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The sixth Lancer senior, hailing from Ludlow, Mass., is Susie Lenz.
Susie competed in just one season of cross country and two seasons of track & field for the Lancers, but was a consistent contributor for the Lancers. Primarily a competitor in the 800 meter and the mile, Susie has PRs in the events of 2:55.37 and 6:37.69 respectively.
“New to the sports of cross country and track & field, Susie used her strong martial arts background to attack this newfound territory,” said Coach Raboin. “She attended each practice and meet with both respect for how challenging our sport can be and gratitude, as she was able to push her limits in a new way and be a member of a team.”
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The seventh Lancer senior, and first sprinter, from Salem, N.H., is Abigail MacGregor.
Abigail is one of the strongest sprinters in the recent history of the Worcester State women’s track & field program, with two MASCAC Individual Championships to her name. Abigail won her first title in the outdoor 200 meter dash in 2019, and won the 4x200 meter relay this past indoor season.
“Abigail is the living definition of a ‘trackie’ - track is life,” said head coach Andrea Ouellette. “At any given time, Abigail knows where she stands and what she needs to achieve to be where she wants to be. She is 100 percent dedicated to the program and the training behind it. Abigail has a way of keeping her teammates motivated by holding them to the same high standard that she holds herself to. She is very goal-driven, setting season goals at the beginning of every year and continuing to push and work hard to achieve them.”
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The next senior, a distance runner from Wilmington, Mass., is Elisabeth Olson.
Elisabeth was the MASCAC Cross Country Runner of the Year in 2018, winning the conference meet to lift her team to its second straight conference championship. She was also a MASCAC Champion 4x800 meter relay team during the 2019 indoor season. Olson is a member of both the indoor and outdoor 4x800 meter relay program records.
“Elisabeth is one of the strongest runners to pass through Worcester State,” said Coach Raboin. “As a team captain in both cross country and track & field, she led by example by putting everything she had into the art of running, putting her team first, and overcoming many hurdles thrown in her way.”
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Worcester State’s next senior, from Mansfield, Mass, is Rachel Stier.
Rachel is a sprinter who has spent four years with the Lancers. She finished second in the 4x400 meter relay at this year’s MASCAC Indoor Championships. She finished second in the same event at the 2018 Outdoor Championships.
“Rachel is the athlete you can always count on to be doing the work when no one else is watching,” said Coach Ouellette. “We never had to be concerned about her during the summer, preseason, or winter breaks; we knew she was putting in the work. She has a very strong and driven work ethic that cannot be taught. She has remained committed to our program while also balancing the demands of the nursing program. Her success on the track and in her nursing classes are a testament to that. Because of her unwavering dedication to everything she sets out to do, she is going to make a phenomenal nurse.”
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The 10th Worcester State senior to be honored, from Worcester, Mass., is Brenda Thomas.
Brenda finished second in two events at this year’s MASCAC Indoor Championships, both the 400 meter run and the 4x400 meter relay. She was also named to the MASCAC Sportsmanship Team.
“Brenda brought life and energy to the team each and every day over the last four years,” said Coach Ouellette. “If she sensed you were feeling down, she would be the first to pick you up and put a smile on your face. She would also be the first to make you challenge yourself and push harder. At every practice, she quietly pushed herself toward her goals, running her career best times in her senior indoor season. Brenda is the spirit of the Worcester State women’s track & field team.”
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The final Lancer senior, from Mansfield, Mass., is Lauren Waters.
Lauren won the 2017 outdoor 100 meter dash conference championship as a freshman, and would go on to compete in six events in her collegiate career. She set a personal best of 4.69 meters in the long jump to place third at the MASCAC Indoor Championships this season.
“Lauren is arguably one of the most determined athletes to pass through the program because of the adversity and uncertainties she faced to continue her collegiate career, burut she chose to face everything head-on and press forward,” said Coach Ouellette. “In her junior season, she was determined to try a new event and quickly embraced it. It didn’t necessarily come easy, but Lauren continued to work at it each week refusing to give up. She may have stumbled and at times became discouraged, but she continued to move forward. It is her perseverance that I most admire and her lead by example attitude that helped to cultivate our highly motivated and focused program.”
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On behalf of the entire Worcester State community, we would like to thank all 11 of our women’s track & field seniors for their contributions to the women’s track & field program, and wish them all the best in their future endeavors!
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