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

SALEM, ORE. -- Both of the cross country teams at Willamette University are nationally ranked, with the Bearcat men's team holding the #28 ranking and the Bearcat women's team ranked #30 in the most recent NCAA Division III Polls released by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

In addition, the Willamette men's team is ranked #2 in the West Region, while the Bearcat women's team is ranked #3 in the West Region.

Leading the men's National Poll was North Central College (Ill.) with all eight first place votes and 280 points. Haverford College (Pa.) was ranked #2 with 271 points. North Central and Haverford both retained their rankings from the Preseason Poll.

Washington University (Mo.) moved up one spot to grab the #3 position in the poll with 259 points, while SUNY Geneseo (N.Y.) slipped one spot to #4 with 257 points. Bates College (Maine) moved up three spots to become the #5 team with 237 points. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) from the West Region was listed at #20 in the National Poll.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps remained the #1 team in the men's West Region Rankings. Willamette continued to be ranked #2, while Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) stayed at #3 and Occidental College (Calif.) kept its #4 ranking. George Fox University moved from outside the Top 10 into the #5 position.

Willamette and George Fox were joined by Northwest Conference opponent Pacific University in the West Region Rankings for the men. The Boxers were ranked #9 after falling to positions from their previous ranking.

Ranked first in the women's National Poll was Middlebury College (Vt.) with six of eight first place votes and 278 points. Williams College (Mass.) followed in the #2 position with 268 points, while Washington University was ranked #3 with 265 points. SUNY Geneseo was next at #4 with 252 points and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was ranked #5 with 246 points.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps was the highest ranked West Region women's team in the National Poll at #7. Lewis & Clark College was ranked #27.

In the women's West Region Rankings, CMS remained the top team, but there were changes at #2 through #5. Lewis & Clark moved up one spot into the #2 position. Willamette also advanced one spot up to #3, while Pomona-Pitzer gained three spots to claim the #4 spot. Occidental dropped three positions and took over the #5 ranking.

Five NWC women's teams were ranked in the Top 10 of the West Region. In addition to Lewis & Clark and Willamette, other NWC teams listed were from Linfield College (#5), Whitman College (#7) and George Fox University (#10).

Willamette will compete at the Northwest Classic hosted by Lane Community College on Saturday, Sept. 22, starting at 10 a.m. (PDT).