Worcester, MA- The Worcester State Cross Country Teams finished ranked in the top three of the MASCAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll, as announced Wednesday by the league.

The men’s program concluded their season as MASCAC Champions, and are looking to defend their title against stiff competition. In 2021, Daniel Clark came in 40th with a time of 31:23 and is back for the team to seek a repeat at this year’s championship. Fitchburg, who finished second in the conference last season, nabbed the top spot in the preseason poll with 33 points, though they received fewer first place votes then second placed Worcester State who received 31 points and four of the seven first place votes. The remaining teams fell in MASCAC Championship finish order for the final spots on the preseason poll.

The women’s program finished their season as the third rank team in the MASCAC, and the preseason coaches’ poll has them sitting in that same spot. The Lancers look to improve upon this third place ranking this season and bring their own championship hardware back to Worcester. Erica Hanlon made it across the line in 10th with a time of 21:15 to earn a spot on the 2021 All-Conference team. Each of the MASCAC teams are predicted to finish their 2022 season exactly as they finished 2021 with Westfield in the top spot with 36 points, and six first place votes, followed by Bridgewater with 27 points and single first place vote. Worcester sits at third with 26 points with Fitchburg, Framingham, Mass Maritime and MCLA rounding out the last four.

The Men’s and Women’s Cross-Country teams will start their campaigns on September 2 at the Suffolk Short Course Classic.