By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University cross country teams continue to be ranked in the West Region of NCAA Division III this week according to the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). The Willamette women's team is ranked #4 in the West Region, while the Bearcat men's team is ranked #5.

In the West Region women's rankings, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) remained #1. Colorado College moved up one spot to #2, leaping over Whitworth University, which fell one position to #3. Willamette held its spot at #4 and Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) stayed at #5.

University of California, Santa Cruz held the #6 ranking, with Occidental College (Calif.) at #7 and University of Redlands (Calif.) at #8. Linfield College was ranked #9 and Whitman College was listed at #10. Whitworth, Willamette, Linfield and Whitman represented the Northwest Conference in the rankings.

In the women's NCAA Division III National Rankings, CMS is #10. Colorado College is tied for #27 and Whitworth is ranked #31.

Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) retained the #1 spot in the West Region men's rankings. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) stayed at #2. Whittier College (Calif.) moved up one spot to #3 and Occidental advanced three positions to #4. Willamette slipped two spots to #5.

Colorado College moved into the West Region rankings at #6, while Lewis & Clark College fell to positions to #7. Whitman was listed at #8, with Whitworth at #9 and George Fox University at #10. Although the top four teams were from Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC), five of the six teams ranketed from sixth to 10th were from the NWC.

The West Region has four teams in the men's NCAA Division III National Rankings. They are Pomona-Pitzer at #6, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps tied for #16,  Whittier at #32 and Occidental at #35.

Willamette will be back in action at the Northwest Conference Championships on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Willamette Mission State Park. George Fox Univeridty is hosting the meet, which will begin at 10 a.m. (PDT).

Last year, Willamette's men won their fourth consecutive NWC title. The Bearcat women's team took second place. Olivia Mancl (Sr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) won the women's individual title.