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

SALEM, ORE. -- The 2014 Northwest Conference Cross Country Championships are set for Bushs Pasture Park in Salem, Ore., on Saturday, Nov. 1. The mens race will be held at 10 a.m., with the womens race to follow at 11 a.m.

Willamette is the defending NWC champion in both mens cross country and womens cross country. The Bearcat mens team won the 2013 title with a score of 49. The Willamette womens team won its championship with a score of 37.

The Willamette men won for the second year in a row and for the third time in six years. The Bearcats won the womens team title for the first time since 2008.

Parker Bennett of Willamette won his second consecutive NWC individual mens title with an 8-kilometer time of 24:30.62. Michaela Freeby from Willamette won the NWC womens individual title over the 6-kilometer course in 21:42.19.

Mens 8-Kilometer Race

The mens race will feature five of the top seven runners in last years NWC Championship race, as well as 11 of the top 14.

Willamette will go for its third consecutive NWC mens championship. The Bearcats have won 10 championships since 2001. Parker Bennett, who won last years individual title, has graduated, but the Bearcats still feature several outstanding runners, including three who earned All-NWC honors last fall.

Jacob Shafi (Jr.) placed fifth in the NWC last season for First Team All-NWC honors. Yonny Castillo (Jr.) and Nathan Conrad (Jr.) finished 12th and 13th, respectively, and received Second Team All-NWC recognition. Also providing solid running this season is Daniel Swanson (Sr.).

Top returning runners for the University of Puget Sound are David Santillan (Jr.), who placed third a year ago, Justin Bigelow (Jr.), who was eighth, and Joshua Seekatz (Sr.), who took 17th. Santillan was chosen First Team All-NWC and Bigelow was named Second Team All-NWC. Sam Carilli (Jr.) also returns for the Loggers. Puget Sound placed second in the team standings in 2013 and remains a strong contender this year.

Last years third place team, Whitman College, also returns key runners from a year ago. Earning First Team All-NWC honors in 2013 were T.C. Haydon (Jr.) in sixth place and Matt Wotipka (So.) in seventh place. Second Team All-NWC accolades went to Colin Domonoske (Sr.), who finished 10th.

Lewis & Clark College placed fourth as a team last year, led by Jarrod Nixon in fourth place. Nixon was in his final season. As a result, the Pioneers have no returning All-Conference runners, but will be led by Brendy Hale (Sr.), who took 21st last season. Nicholas Ellis (Jr.) also is back for L&C.

In fifth place last season was Linfield College. The Wildcats have two returning Second Team All-NWC athletes. They are Michael ONeil (So.), who took 11th place as a freshman last year, and Alex Mangan (Jr.), who placed 14th.

Whitworth University, the 2010 and 2011 NWC champion, has a solid team this fall. Taylor Steele (Sr.) just missed All-NWC honors by placing 15th last year. He will be joined by Trent Dudley (Sr.) and Colton Berry (So.). The Pirates placed sixth in 2013 and will be looking to move up in 2014.

George Fox University was seventh a year ago. Runners for the Bruins include Kody Tarbell (Sr.), the 19th mens finisher in 2013. After losing a couple of seniors, GFU will look to Cody Thompson (So.) to provide depth on the roster.

The Pacific University mens team will be led by Tyler Shipley (Jr.). Last season, Shipley took second place and received First Team All-NWC recognition. He is the top returning runner in this years field. Gary Fanelli (So.) earned experience in 2013 and will work to strengthen the Boxers lineup this year. Pacific placed eighth a year ago.

Pacific Lutheran University was ninth in 2013. Top returning runners for the Lutes are two sophomores who competed in the NWC meet as freshmen. They are Charles Mogen and Matthew MacFarlane.

Five NWC mens teams were included in the latest West Region rankings for NCAA Division III released on Oct. 21. Willamette was listed third, with Puget Sound following in fourth and Whitman in fifth. Whitworth was ranked ninth and Lewis & Clark was 10th.

2013 NWC Mens Championship

1 -- Willamette, 49
2 -- Puget Sound, 69
3 -- Whitman, 82
4 -- Lewis & Clark, 122
5 -- Linfield, 128
6 -- Whitworth, 135
7 -- George Fox, 147
8 -- Pacific, 210
9 -- Pacific Lutheran, 224

Womens 6-Kilometer Race

It should be an exciting womens championship race this season with six of last years top seven finishers -- and nine of the top 10 -- back to run for the NWC title. Ten of the 14 All-Conference selections from a year ago have returned.

Willamette is the favorite to win its second consecutive NWC team championship. The Bearcats have won nine titles since 2000. This years Willamette squad is ranked ninth in NCAA Division III.

The 2013 individual champion, Michaela Freeby (Sr.) returns for the Bearcats. Other returning First Team All-NWC selections for Willamette are Taylor Ostrander (Jr.), who placed second last year, and Olivia Mancl (So.), who took seventh place.

The Bearcats also return a Second Team All-NWC athlete in Juliet Farnan (Jr.). Farnan was ninth at last years meet. Additional depth will be supplied by Annette Marinello (Sr.) and Hannah Bressler (Jr.).

Whitworth also is nationally ranked. The Pirates enter the NWC Championships ranked 31st in NCAA Division III. Amanda Blankenship (Jr.) and Christina Williams (Sr.) are returning First Team All-NWC runners. Blankenship placed fourth and Williams was fifth a year ago.

Kellyn Roiko (Jr.) also returns after earning Second Team All-NWC honors by placing eighth. Allie Wood (So.) narrowly missed All-NWC status as a freshman after placing 15th. Kellen Valentich (So.) adds to the Piratess depth.

Whitman placed third a year ago, holding off three teams by 12 points or less. Skye Pauly, a First Team All-NWC honoree in sixth place in 2013, leads the Missionaries. Julia Hart (So.), who placed 19th at last seasons meet, also returns, along with Ziggy Lanman (Jr.).

Last years fourth place team, Linfield, graduated its top three finishers. This years Wildcats are paced by returning runner Calli Dowdy (Sr.). Also providing quality running for Linfield are freshmen Kaelia Neal and Jaime Rodden.

Puget Sound was fifth in the NWC last season. The top returning runner for the Loggers is Sierra Grunwald (Sr.), who registered Second Team All-NWC honors in 2013 by placing 12th. Molly Bradbury (Sr.) also is back for Puget Sound.

Sixth place at last years meet was achieved by Lewis & Clark, when the Pioneers finished nine points out of fourth. Second Team All-NWC selection Katie Keith will lead the way this year, after placing 10th last season. Ali Brauer (Sr.) returns with Keith as a top runner for L&C.

Pacific Lutheran does not have any returning All-Conference runners, but Genevieve Brandt (So.) is back after placing 22nd as a freshman a year ago. Amie Wilson (So.) also returns for the Lutes.

A year ago, George Fox placed eighth in the NWC. The top finisher for GFU was a freshman, Erin Sanders, who returns for her sophomore year. Also returning is Sarah Mackenzie (Sr.).

Pacific was ninth at the NWC Championships in 2013. The Boxers top returning runners are Michelle Kester (Jr.) and Elaina Gillespie (So.). Stephanie Spencer (Fr.) has performed well for Pacific this season.

Four of the top five teams in the West Region womens rankings are from the Northwest Conference. Willamette is ranked first, with Whitworth in third and Whitman in fourth. Puget Sound is ranked fifth.

2013 NWC Womens Championship

1 -- Willamette, 37
2 -- Whitworth, 52
3 -- Whitman, 101
4 -- Linfield, 104
5 -- Puget Sound, 112
6 -- Lewis & Clark, 113
7 -- Pacific Lutheran, 207
8 -- George Fox, 239
9 -- Pacific, 255

Meet Program