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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University is ranked #22 this week in the NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country National Coaches Poll, released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday, Sept. 22. The Bearcat men's team also is ranked #3 in the West Region, while the Willamette women's team is listed at #5 in the West Region.

In the men's national poll, North Central College (Illinois) moved up one spot to take over the #1 position. NCC garnered six of the eight first place votes and 278 points. A week ago, North Central was ranked #2, just one point out of the top ranking. Washington University (Mo.), the #1 team last week, fell to #2 but still received two first place votes and 271 points in the poll.

Allegheny College (Pa.) was listed at #3 with 261 points, while Haverford College (Pa.) was ranked #4 and claimed 257 points for the second week in a row. SUNY Geneseo (N.Y.) held the #5 position with 251 points.

Willamette was one of four teams from the West Region included in the men's Top 35. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) was ranked #15, Whitworth University was placed at #19, Willamette was #22 and Colorado College was ranked #31.

The Bearcat men's team won the Willamette Grass Course this past Friday (Sept. 17) with a perfect score of 15. Willamette's women also took first place on the Grass Course, as the Bearcats registered a team score of 22.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps continued to hold the #1 spot in the West Region Men's Rankings. Whitworth followed at #2, with Willamette at #3 and Lewis & Clark College at #4. Colorado College was ranked #5 in the Region.

The West Region Women's Rankings were topped by CMS. Lewis & Clark was ranked #2 and Whitworth was #3. Pomona-Pitzer was listed at #4 and Willamette held the #5 ranking.

Willamette will compete at the Linfield Invitational at Willamette Mission State Park on Saturday, Sept. 25. The action is set to begin at 10 a.m. (PDT). WU will host the 36th Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 2 starting at 9:30 a.m..