By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University cross country teams are both ranked in the West Region of NCAA Division III this week as released by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Bearcat men's team is ranked #3 in the West Region and the Willamette women's team is ranked #5. Both teams slipped out of the NCAA Division III National Polls.
In the West Region men's rankings, Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) remained #1 and Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) stayed at #2. Willamette retained the Bearcats' position from a week ago at #3. Whitman College advanced one spot to #4 and Occidental College (Calif.) dropped one place to #5.
Whittier College (Calif.) was listed at #6 after jumping up three spots. Lewis & Clark College moved into the West Region rankings at #7 and Pacific Lutheran University joined the rankings at #8. George Fox University fell one position to #9, while University of Puget Sound dropped four spots to #10. Seven of the 10 team in the men's rankings were from the Northwest Conference.
The West Region women's rankings were topped by Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, which was the only top 5 team to retain its ranking from the previous week. Whitworth advanced two spots from #4 up to #2. Colorado College fell from #2 to #3, while Pomona-Pitzer jumped two positions into the #4 spot. Willamette, which was ranked #3 last week, fell to #5 in this week's rankings.
University of California, Santa Cruz moved into the rankings at #6, while Occidental dropped two positions to #7. University of Redlands (Calif.), now #8, and Lewis & Clark, now #9, each slipped one spot from a week ago. George Fox remained ranked at #10. Four teams from the NWC were ranked this week in the women's poll.
The Bearcats will host the 42nd Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Bush's Pasture Park. The first of four races is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. (PDT).