By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior Parker Bennett (Sisters, OR/Sisters HS) has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Men's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts on Saturday, Sept. 29.

Bennett took 15th place out of 170 runners and was the third NCAA Division III finisher (1st from the NWC) in the Men's Cardinal 8K Race at the 38th Annual Charles Bowles Invitational, hosted by Willamette. Bennett's time for the course at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Ore., was 25:30.23. The Cardinal Race included teams from NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III.

His successful race helped Willamette place fifth in the team standings. The Bearcats earned the best finish by a Division III team.

Bennett is in his third season competing on the Bearcat men's cross country team. Last year, he placed 14th at the Northwest Conference Championships to earn Second Team All-NWC honors. He also finished in 34th place at the West Regional to secure NCAA All-West Region recognition. In 2010, Bennett ran for Willamette at the NCAA Division III National Championships.

Last week, the Willamette en's cross country team held the #33 national ranking in the NCAA Division III Poll. The Bearcats will not compete this weekend, but will send runners to two meets over the weekend of Oct. 12-13.

On Oct. 12, the Bearcats will run at the Mike Hodges Invitational at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, Ore. On Oct. 13, Willamette will compete at the Brooks Invitational in Winneconne, Wisc. The event will be hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.