By Sara Elcano, Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University is ranked #18 this week in the NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country National Coaches Poll, released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Wednesday, Oct. 6. The Bearcat men's team also is ranked #1 in the West Region, while the Willamette women's team is listed at #4 in the West Region.

USTFCCCA Cross Country National Polls

In the men's national poll, North Central College (Illinois) continued to be in the #1 position. NCC garnered eight of the eight first place votes and 280 points. Washington University (Mo.) is tied for #2 with Allegheny College (Pa.). Each school received 266 points in the poll.

SUNY Geneseo (N.Y.) moved up to the #4 position from the #5 spot and received 257 points. Rounding out the top five was St. Lawrence with 246 points.

Willamette was one of three teams from the West Region included in the men's Top 35. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) was ranked #23, Whitworth University was tied at #31.

The Bearcat men's team had a strong 5th place showing at the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 2 that helped WU climb in the rankings.

Following Willamette in the regional rankings are Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at the #2 spot. Whitworth is next at #3 and Colorado College sits at #4. Lewis & Clark College is ranked #5.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps continued to hold the top spot in the West Region Women's Rankings. Whitworth was ranked #2. Lewis & Clark was ranked #3 and Willamette was #4. Whittier moved up from #8 to take over the #5 spot.

A portion of Willamette's team will compete at the Mike Hodges Invitational in Oregon City, Ore. on Friday, Oct. 15. Other runners will participate in the Bill Dellinger Invitational at the University of Oregon in Eugene, Ore., on Saturday, Oct. 16.