(Courtesy Westfield State Sports Information)

Click here for 2008 MASCAC Women's Cross Country Championship Results

WESTFIELD, Mass. --  Westfield State captured its fifth straight Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference women's cross-country championship with a runaway victory on Saturday, Oct. 25, at Stanley Park.

Led by individual champion Kerry Arouca, a junior from Hanson, Mass., the Owls placed seven runners in the top 11 in posting the fourth lowest total in the meet's 24-year history.

Westfield finished with 24 points in the seven-team meet, followed by Bridgewater State (72) and Worcester State (90).

Arouca continued her strong running this season with a time of 18:44.64 over the 3.1-mile course. Westfield State senior Marianne Mealey of Foxboro placed second in 19:13.04, followed by Bridgewater sophomore Amanda Hauswirth (19:26.97) and Westfield State senior Marlee Berg (19:53.69).

Worcester State freshman Maura Withington earned MASCAC Rookie of the Year honors by placing fifth in 20:12.01.

Also earning all-conference honors were: Fitchburg freshman Katelyn Page (6th), Worcester's Kara Antrim (7th), Westfield junior Ally Brown (8th), Westfield freshman Marissa Benito (9th), and Westfield freshman Nicole Brouwer (10th).

Westfield State first year Head Coach Bill Devine was honored by his peers with selection as the 2008 MASCAC Coach of the Year after guiding the Owls to the title.