WSU XC

Owls Give a Hoot About Cross Country in 2011

Published: September 22, 2011

THIS year on the Westfield State University’s Cross Country team, there has been a lot of anticipation for the upcoming season. With many new recruits to the team that were swiftly scouted by long-time coach Bill Devine, the

Owls are looking to make a big hoot this year. “It’s all about championship time!” shouts Coach Devine at the forty plus harriers trying out for the team during a preseason workout. This year, Westfield is not ending their season with the MASCAC (Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference) championship race, but looking past that at the regional meet. There are high hopes to do very well there and hopefully move on to the national championship in Winneconne, WI.

Last year, the men’s team took the MASCAC title from Bridgewater State while the women’s team claimed victory for the seventh straight time at the championship meet. Both teams are predicted to win the championship again this year according to a recent poll taken by the league’s coaches.

However, Westfield State is not all about winning. Since it is a DIII sport at the University, there is some intensity that comes into play but also a focus on having fun and saving time for school as well. The Westfield State team has the highest GPA among all of its runners than any other team in the MASCAC conference. There is a lot of team bonding that takes place throughout the season including a team scavenger hunt, dinner outings, and barbecue’s at the coach’s house in nearby Monson, MA.

After interviewing one of the runners from the women’s team, Christina Berselli (sophomore), there was nothing but positive outlook on her opinion of the team. “I like how it’s not political (the team), and how you can just run your best without being yelled at or judged by a coach or others on the team. I also like how the meets don’t interfere with the school week because they all are scheduled on the weekends.”

There definitely is a close community feeling when you step out onto the field at Stanley Park and engage in a warm-up around the park. Everyone is laughing and chatting about whatever they please and including everybody in the conversations. It’s a light-hearted time and somewhat relaxing which may sound crazy to some who don’t run and would struggle with a 2 mile run as a WARMUP to the workout ahead. But for the cross country team, it seems to be a great time for all every day.

After the warm-ups, on hard workout days the team usually heads out onto the Woodward outdoor track facility, or down into Stanley Park’s trails in the area the team knows as “The Meadows.” Some of the workouts are very challenging, including mile repeats and grueling 8x1000 intervals with no rest, only a minute recovery while jogging. You would think many would dread days like these, but the team really works together, taking off on each interval in groups, motivating each other between heavy breaths with small words of encouragement like “keep it up,” or “almost there.” It really is incredible to see so many athletes working together in these ways to get in better shape for the team.

As the Westfield State Cross Country Team nears the half-way point in the 2011 season, it will be very interesting to watch what happens next. If you would like to keep up on the Owls season and their goal to make it to the big meet, you can stay tuned by checking out their webpage on westfieldstateowls.com. The team could always use support, especially at their home meet coming up October 8^th for the James Earley Invitational at Stanley Park. Hope to see you all there. Happy trails!