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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University is ready to host one of the largest college cross country meets on the West Coast this weekend. On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Bearcats will be the home team at the 40th Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational at Bush's Pasture Park.

Although Charles Bowles passed away in 2005, this weekend's meet will continue his legacy of success, integrity and commitment to the sport. What was once known as the Willamette Invitational now bears his name.

There will be four races, starting with the Men's Cardinal 8-kilometer race, which will feature teams from NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III at 9:30 a.m. (PDT). The Women's Cardinal 5-kilometer race will follow at 10:20 a.m., and will include teams from NCAA Division II and NCAA Division III.

The Men's Gold 8-kilometer race, with runners from the NAIA, junior colleges and club teams, plus unattached runners, is set to get underway at 11 a.m. The Women's Gold 5-kilometer race, which also includes NAIA, junior college and non-collegiate runners, is set to get underway at 11:50 a.m.

More than 700 runners will be competing at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational this week. They will represent teams from nine states and one Canadian province. The teams are from Alaska, California, Florida, Idaho, Nebraska, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, Washington and British Columbia.

Overall, there will be 29 four-year colleges and universities, five junior colleges, and one club team, in addition to unattached athletes.

Most of the colleges and universities will be competing in a men's and a women's race. The exceptions are Mary Baldwin College (Va.), Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) and Texas Wesleyan University entering only a women's team, and the University of Oregon entering only a men's team.

A total of 15 teams are listed in their respective national rankings this week.

In the Men's Cardinal 8-kilometer race, the only nationally ranked team is Chico Sate (Calif.) at #3 in NCAA Division II. Several NCAA Division III men's teams in the race are ranked in the West Region, with Whitman College at #5, Willamette at #6, Puget Sound at #7, Lewis & Clark College at #8 and Whitworth University at #10. Christopher Newport University (Va.) is ranked #2 in the South/Southeast Region.

Top runners for Willamette in the Men's Cardinal race are Jacob Shafi (Jr., Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley HS), Yonny Castillo (Jr., Parkdale, OR/Hood River Valley HS) and Daniel Swanson (Sr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS).

There are three teams nationally ranked in the Womens Cardinal 5-kilometer race. They are Chico State, ranked #6 in NCAA Division II, plus Willamette, ranked #12 in NCAA Division III, and Whitman, ranked #33 in Division III. Central Washington University received votes in this week's NCAA Division II Poll.

Willamette's top runners on the women's team are Michaela Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS), who took first place at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational last season, as well as Taylor Ostrander (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS), Hannah Bressler (Jr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS) and Olivia Mancl (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS).

Freeby earned All-America honors in 2013 after placing eighth at the NCAA Division III Championships. Ostrander was 40th at the NCAA meet.

The Mens Gold 8-kilometer race features six ranked NAIA teams. They are the University of British Columbia at #5, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) at #10, Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) at #11, Eastern Oregon University at #12, Northwest Christian University (Ore.) at #15 and Concordia University (Ore.) at #25. Oregon Institute of Technology received votes in the poll.

In the Women's Gold 5-kilometer race, nationally ranked NAIA teams are British Columbia at #1, Northwest Christian (Ore.) at #4, Lewis-Clark State at #11, Oregon Tech at #21 and Texas Wesleyan University at #23.

Admission to the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational is free. Spectators are asked to be cautious near the course and to avoid interfering with participants. Although most of the course will take runners throughout Bush's Pasture Park, all of the races will finish inside McCulloch Stadium.

40th Annual Charles Bowles
|Willamette Invitational
Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014
At Bush's Pasture Park, Salem, Ore.

Schedule of Events
9:30 a.m. - Men's Cardinal 8K Race, NCAA Divisions I, II, III
10:20 a.m. - Women's Cardinal 5K Race, NCAA Divisions I, II, III
11:00 a.m. - Men's Gold 8K Race, NAIA, Junior Colleges, club teams, unattached
11:50 a.m. - Women's Gold 5K Race, NAIA, Junior Colleges, club teams unattached