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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University Head Coach Matt McGuirk has been named NCAA Division III West Region Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). It is the fifth time McGuirk has been selected for the award, after previously being honored in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007.

McGuirk led the Bearcats women's cross country team to the Northwest Conference title and the West Region championship. The Bearcats won the NWC championship with a near-perfect score of 16 after placing 1-2-3-4-6. At the West Regional, Willamette took first place with a score of 31 with 2-3-5-9-12 finish. WU also won the NWC men's team title.

Willamette hosted the NWC Championships and the West Region Championships at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Ore. Taylor Ostrander (Jr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS) won the NWC women's individual championship in addition to helping the Bearcats earn the team title.

By winning the West Region title, the Willamette women's team achieved a berth into the 2014 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, set for Saturday, Nov. 22 in Mason, Ohio. The championships, which will be hosted by Wilmington College (Ohio), are set for The Golf Center at King's Island.

The men's 8-kilometer championship race will start at 11 a.m. EST/8 a.m. PST. The women's 6-kilometer championship race is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. EST/9 a.m. PST.

Willamette's top five runners at the West Regional were Michael Freeby (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS), Olivia Mancl (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), Ostrander, Juliet Farnan (Jr., Lafayette, CA/Campolindo HS) and Hannah Bressler (Jr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS).

Also competing for the WU women's team at the regional were Alyssa Reese (Fr., Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) and Hannah Swanson (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS).

Yonny Castillo (Jr., Parkdale, OR/Hood River Valley HS) placed 10th in the men's race at the West Regional. He received an individual at-large bid to compete at the NCAA Championships.

McGuirk has received many coach of the year awards with the Willamette cross country teams. In addition to his five West Region Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year awards, he has been named West Region Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year four times (2001, 2003, 2005, 2010).

He has been chosen NWC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year five times (2004, 2007, 2008, 2013, 2014). He has been selected NWC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year nine times (2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013 and 2014).