By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's cross country team is ranked #8 in the West Region of NCAA Division III this week, according to the first ranking of the 2019 regular season released by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) moved up from #2 in the Preseason Poll into the #1 spot this week. Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) slipped from #1 down to #2. University of California, Santa Cruz remained at #3, while Occidental College (Calif.) advanced three positions to grab the #4 ranking. Caltech was listed at #5.

University of Redlands (Calif.) held the #6 spot, with Pacific University at #7 and Willamette at #8. Whitman College followed at #9 and Whitworth University was #10.

Willamette will compete in two cross country meets this weekend. On Friday, Sept. 20, several Bearcats will participate in the Sundowner Invitational, hosted by Western Oregon University. The meet will feature a 6-kilometer women's race and an 8-kilometer men's race, with both races held at the Ash Creek Preserve in Monmouth, Oregon. Action will get underway at 5 p.m. (PDT). On Saturday, Sept. 21, another group of Bearcats will run at the Carleton Invitational in Northfield, Minnesota. The meet will take place on the campus of Carleton College starting at 10:30 a.m. (CDT)/8:30 a.m. (PDT).