By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University's traditionally strong men's and women's cross country programs are highly regarded again this season, as both squads are nationally and regionally ranked in the 2016 NCAA Division III Preseason Polls released by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Bearcat women's team is ranked #23 in the nation and #3 in the West Region, while the Willamette men's team is ranked #31 in the nation and #3 in the West Region. Last year, both teams competed at the NCAA Division III Championshps, with the Willamette women placing 10th in the country and the Bearcat men earning 28th place.

In this year's Preseason National Poll for NCAA Division III women's cross country, Williams College (Mass.) was ranked #1 with all eight first place votes and 280 points. SUNY Geneseo (N.Y.) held the #2 spot with 272 points, while Johns Hopkins University (Md.) was third at 263. Washington University (Mo.) was listed at #4 with 254 points, and Tufs University (Mass.) was ranked #5 at 245 points.

SUNY Oneonta (N.Y.) followed at #6 with 240 points. Massachusetts Institute of Technology was #7 with 233 points, while Middlebury College (Vt.) owned the #8 position with 219 points. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (N.Y). was just two points behind Middlburgy at #9 with 217 points. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse held #10 in the poll with 208 points.

Joining Willamette as West Region teams in the National Poll were Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) at #11 and Colorado College at #16.

In the women's Preseason West Region rankings, Claremont-Mudd Scripps was listed at #1, with Colorado College at #2 and Willamette at #3. Occidental College (Calif.) was ranked #4 and Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) was ranked #5.

Willamette was one of four Northwest Conference teams included in the top 10 of the women's West Region rankings. Whitworth University held the #6 spot, with Whitman College at #8 and Linfield College at #9.

Olivia Mancl (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) is Willamette's top returning women's cross country runner. In 2015, she placed second at the NCAA Championships. She also took second place at the NCAA West Regional and won the Northwest Conference individual women's title.

Other returning runners who competed for the WU women's team at the NCAA Championships are Hannah Swanson (Jr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), Ami Boucher (Sr., Concord, CA/Northgate HS) and Hazel Carr (So., Seattle, Wa/The Northwest School).

The Preseason National Poll for NCAA Division III men's cross country was topped by North Central College (Ill.), which received five of eight first place votes and 275 points. SUNY Geneseo was second with one first place vote and 270 points. Williams placed third with two first place votes and 268 points.

Rounding out the top five were University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire at #4 and Pomona-Pitzer at #5. UW-Eau Claire earned 254 points in the poll, while Pomona-Pitzer received 237.

Pomona-Pitzer garnered just one more point than St. Olaf College (Minn.), which was ranked #6 at 236. Likewise, Massachusetts Institute of Technology was just one more point back at #7 with 235 points.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps was listed at #8 in the men's National Poll with 224 points. UW-Lacrosse held #9 with 220 points, and Amherst College (Mass.) was #10 with 204 points.

Willamette, Pomona-Pitzer and CMS were the only West Region teams in the men's poll.

The men's Preseason West Region rankings, were led by Pomona-Pitzer at #1. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps was #2 and Willamette followed at #3. Occidental held the #4 position in the rankings, while University of Puget Sound was #5.

Willamette and Puget Sound led seven NWC teams in the men's West Region rankings. Whitman was listed at #6, George Fox University was #7, and Whitworth owned #8. Pacific Lutheran University was #9 and Linfield was #10.

Top runners from the Willamette 2015 men's team who are returning this season are Patrick Loftus (Jr., Santa Rosa, CA/Sonoma Academy) and Keith Carlson (So., Bainbridge Island, WA//Bainbridge HS). Jack Kobylka (Jr., Napa, CA/Vintage HS) also returns for the Bearcats after competing at the 2015 NCAA Championships.

The Bearcats are scheduled to open the 2016 season at the Ash Creek Preserve Invitational on Friday, Sept. 9. The meet, hosted by Western Oregon University, will be held in Monmouth, Oregon, starting at 5 p.m. (PDT).