SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (November 6, 2025) – The Conference of New England (CNE) has officially announced All-Conference and Community Service team members for the 2025 Cross Country Season. Three Golden Bears see their names announced as part of the conference press release on Thursday.
Olivia Kay, Joshua Farrell, and Lia Pouliot have been named as part of the CNE's postseason awards, with Farrell being named for a second time in his career and both Pouliot and Kay earning their awards for the first time in their careers. Olivia Kay has been named to the All-CNE Third Team. This award arrives after Kay placed fourteenth in the Conference Championship meet on Saturday in Wenham, Massachusetts, at Gordon College. Kay finished with a new career best time of 23:41.48. That time also earned her the third-fastest time in WNE 6k history. This honor comes after Kay had a season marked with personal best times and a second-place finish at the Elms College Blazer Invitational.
Lia Pouliot was named to the conference's Community Service Team. This team aims to highlight an individual from each conference member's team who serves their community both on and off campus. The conference looks for individuals who go above and beyond the call to serve their communities. Pouliot has achieved this by assisting on campus at the B.E.A.R. P.A.W. Center as an Occupational Therapy (OTD) student. The center is "one of the first and only student-run occupational therapy pro bono clinics in the country." Pouliot is able to help members of the WNE and greater Springfield area by providing hands-on occupational therapy services to improve their quality of life. The Newington, Connecticut, native is also part of the Aqua Buddies program on campus. Through the Center for Human Development at WNE, Pouliot and the Aqua Buddies program assist youth members of the local community with disabilities in accessing aquatic therapy sessions. The idea behind the program is for OTD students to provide children with activities that are fun and increase their comfort with water and social skills.
Joshua Farrell picks up his third CNE Community Service Team nod between Cross Country and Track and Field. Farrell is a constant source of help to his community, both on and off campus. Farrell is a part of the WNE Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) E-Board, which organizes events on campus to promote awareness for causes that its members are passionate about. Farrell also assists in setting up and running donation drives to aid in fighting food insecurity in the greater Springfield, Massachusetts area. The Pawtucket, Rhode Island native is truly passionate about growing the sport of running, especially Track and Field, to youth athletes inside and outside his hometown. Farrell volunteers with programs in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to help grow a similar love for the sport that Farrell has.
Kay, Pouliot, Farrell, and the Golden Bears will be back in action for their final meet of the season on Saturday, November 15, 2025, when they take on the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships. The meet will begin at 11:00 AM.
