By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's cross country team is set to run at the 2015 Northwest Conference Championships, which will be held in Parkland, Washington, on Saturday, Oct. 31. Willamette will be defending its team championships won in 2013 and 2014. In addition, Taylor Ostrander (Sr., Kenai, AK/Kenai Central HS) of Willamette is the defending women's individual champion.

Last year Ostrander and Olivia Mancl (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) crossed the finish line together after completing the 6-kilometer course in 22:25.2. Ostrander was the winner with Mancl in second place, starting the Bearcats on a 1-2-3-4-6 finish for a near-perfect team score of 16.

Juliet Farnan (Sr., Lafayette, CA/Campolindo HS), who placed fourth a year ago, and Hannah Bressler (Sr., Oak Harbor, WA/Oak Harbor HS), who took sixth, also return for the Bearcats. Add in Alyssa Reese (So., Louisville, CO/Monarch HS) and Ami Boucher (Jr., Concord, CA/Northgate HS) and the Bearcats have a strong group of contenders. Reese placed 17th at the NWC Championships last season.

Willamette is ranked #9 in the nation in NCAA Division III and is listed at #2 in the West Region rankings. The Bearcats took second in the team standings at the Ash Creek Invitational, placed fifth at the 41st Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational, and earned second place at the AAE Invitational in Winneconne, Wisconsin.

The strongest challenge to Willamette's defense of the NWC title will likely come from Whitworth University. The Pirates are ranked #12 in NCAA Division III and are the #3 team in the West Region. Willamette finished one point in front of Whitworth at the Willamette Invitational.

Kellyn Roiko (Sr.) is the top returning runner for the Pirates. She placed fifth at the NWC Championships in 2014 and was 16th at this year's Willamette Invitational. Another senior for Whitworth, Katie McKay, was 17th at the Willamette Invitational. Kristen Schoenike (Jr.) earned 14th place in the NWC last season.

Joining Willamette and Whitworth in the West Region rankings are Whitman College at #8 and Linfield College at #9. Julia Hart (Sr.) of Whitman leads the Missionaries this year after missing part of last season due to an injury. Kaelia Neal (So.) has been Linfield's top performer this season.

The NWC Championships will get underway with the women's 6-kilometer race at 10 a.m. (PDT). the men's 8-kilometer race is set to begin at 11 a.m. (PDT). First Team All-Northwest Conference honors will go to the top seven finishers in each race, with the next seven finishers receiving Second Team All-NWC recognition.

Willamette has won 10 NWC team titles since 2000. The Bearcats placed first in 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2013 and 2014.