By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University cross country teams look forward to the 2016 season as a chance to extend their tradition of success. Willamette's men have won 23 Northwest Confrence titles and seven NCAA West Region championships. The Bearcat women's team has earned 10 NWC championships and seven West Regional titles.

Last year, both teams competed at the NCAA Division III Championships, with the Willamette women placing 10th in the country and the Bearcat men earning 28th place. The men won the 2015 NWC Championship --- giving them four consecutive titles -- and the women placed first at the 2015 NCAA West Regional. WU's women placed second in the NWC, while the Bearcat men's team took third place at the West Regional.

Willamette is scheduled to open the 2016 season at the Ash Creek Preserve Invitational on Friday, Sept. 9. A small group of Bearcats will run at the meet, hosted by Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon, starting at 5 p.m. (PDT).

Both of Willamette's teams are nationally and regionally ranked in the 2016 NCAA Division III Preseason Polls released by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Bearcat women's team is ranked #23 in the nation and #3 in the West Region, while the Willamette men's team is listed at #31 in the nation and #3 in the West Region.

Leading the Willamette men's team are Patrick Loftus (Jr., Santa Rosa, CA/Sonoma Academy) and Keith Carlson (So., Bainbridge Island, WA//Bainbridge HS). Loftus achieved a seventh place finish at last year's NWC Championships to earn First Team All-NWC recognition. Carlson placed 10th place in the NWC for Second Team All-NWC honors.

Loftus and Carlson both competed at the West Regional and the NCAA Championships. Loftus was named All-West Region.

The top returning runner for the Willamette women's team is Olivia Mancl (Sr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), who placed second in the individual standings at the NCAA Championships. She won the NWC title and finished second at the West Regional. She was named First Team All-Conference, All-West Region and All-America.

Hannah Swanson (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) placed 10th at the conference race and was named Second Team All-NWC. Swanson and Ami Boucher (Sr., Concord, CA/Northgate HS) joined Mancl as All-West Region selections, as they placed 18th and 21st, respectively. Mancl, Swanson, Boucher and Hazel Carr (So., Seattle, Wa/The Northwest School) all return after competing at the NCAA Championships.

Head Coach Matt McGuirk is in his 13th season leading the Bearcats in cross country. He is in his 18th year on the coaching staff.