Willamette Women's Track and Field Team Moves Up to #20 in National Rankings

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The women's track and field field team at Willamette University moved up one spot this week to #20 in the 2012 Outdoor Track and Field Rankings for NCAA Division III, released by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on April 11.

In addition, the Willamette women's team is ranked #4 in the West Region. The Bearcat men's team is ranked #5 in the West Region.

Both of Willamette's teams will bring a full squad to the John Knight Twilight at Western Oregon University on Friday, April 13 in Monmouth. Field events will start at 2 p.m. (PDT) and running events will begin at 4 p.m.

Wartburg College (Iowa) remains the #1 team in the women's national rankings, but has added 52.82 points to improve its position to 309.81 points. The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is ranked #2 with 191.69 points. Massachusetts Institute of Technology is #3 with 146.38 points, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is #4 at 131.87 and Williams College (Mass.) is #5 at 102.03 points.

In the men's national rankings, McMurry University (Texas) holds the top spot with 213.69 points. UW-Oshkosh follows at #2 with 203.65 points, while the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is ranked #3 with 173.51 points. North Central College (Ill.) is #4 with 117.18 points and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is #5 with 113.27 points.

The West Region women's rankings are led by George Fox University with 472.53 points. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) is the #2 team with 453.95 points. California Lutheran University is #3 at 388.41, Willamette is #4 at 316.57 and the University of La Verne (Calif.) is #5 at 313.01.

Northwest Conference teams joining George Fox and Willamette in the women's regional rankings are Linfield College at #7, Whitworth University at #8 and Lewis & Clark College at #10.

Whitworth is listed first in the West Region men's rankings with 503.88 points. La Verne is ranked #2 with 396.61 points, while Claremont-Mudd-Scripps is #3 with 377.32 points. The University of Redlands follows at #4 with 368.91 points and Willamette is #5 with 261.43 points.

Overall, four NWC teams are included in the men's regional rankings. Whitworth and Willamette lead the way, with Pacific Lutheran University at #6 and Linfield at #10.