Bearcat Women's Track and Field Team is Ranked #21 in the Nation

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's track and field field team is ranked #21 in NCAA Division III in the 2012 Outdoor Track and Field Rankings released by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on March 28. Willamette picked up where it left off last season, when the Bearcat women's team was listed at #30 in the final rankings.

Listed at the top of the NCAA Division III women's rankings is Wartburg College (Iowa) with 251.47 points. The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, the defending Division III champion, is ranked #2 with 172.66 points. Fellow Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is the #3 team at 143.68 points.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology holds the #4 spot at 139.86, while Williams College (Mass) is #5 at 122.91.

The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is ranked #1 in the NCAA Division III men's rankings with a slim lead over the UW-Oshkosh at #2. UW-Lacrosse has 185.30 points, while UW-Oshkosh has 185.12 points. McMurry University (Texas) is #3 with 165.63 points. North Central College (Ill.), which won the 2010 and 2011 Division III championships, is ranked #4 at 130.95. University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is listed at #5 with 101.98 points.

Willamette will return to action on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31 as the Bearcats host the Willamette Invitational at the Charles Bowles Track. The Willamette Invitational is one of the largest collegiate track and field meets on the West Coast each season.

This year, the meet will include approximately 1,000 entries. Field events get under way at 3 p.m. (PDT) on Friday and at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Races on the track begin at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and at 12 p.m. on Saturday.