McGuirk Named West Region Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University Head Coach Matt McGuirk has been named 2010 NCAA Division III West Region Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA). McGuirk recently led the Bearcats to the men's team championship at the NCAA West Regional. He will be leading the team into the NCAA Championships this weekend at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.

It is the fourth time that McGuirk has been selected as the West Region Men's Coach of the Year in cross country. He previously received the award in 2001, 2003 and 2005. He also has been named West Region Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year four times. He received the women's honor in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

WU earned the West Regional men's title by two points over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps. The Bearcats recorded a team score of 63 and five Willamette runners earned All-West Region honors by placing among the top 35 finishers. CMS took second place with a team score of 65. Willamette has won the West Region men's title seven times in the past nine years.

Stefan Redfield (Sr., Sisters, OR/Sisters HS) led Willamette at the West Regional by crossing the finish line in second place. Leo Castillo (Jr., Parkdale, OR/Hood River Valley HS) took seventh place and Kevin Aubol (So., Ellensburg, WA/Ellensburg HS) placed eighth.

Also earning All-West Region recognition were Ryan McLaughlin (Sr., Milwaukie, OR/Milwaukie HS) in 17th place and Ben Donovan (Jr., Minneapolis, MN/South HS) in 29th place. The Bearcats will bring seven runners and an alternate to the NCAA Championships this weekend.

McGuirk is taking the Bearcat men's team to the NCAA Championships for the 10th consecutive season. WU placed fifth in 2002 and 2004, and was seventh in 2001. McGuirk, who began coaching the men's team in 2001, has been the head coach for both the men's and women's teams since 2004.

Last year, the Bearcats finished 20th in the men's team standings at the NCAA Championships, while Tina Patel '10 competed as an individual in the women's championship race. This year, the men's team will compete once again, while the women's team will be represented by Kimber Mattox (So., Bend, OR/Bend HS/Cornell Univ.) and Theresa Edwards (So., Lake Tapps, WA/Bonney Lake HS).

Mattox and Edwards received individual bids to the NCAA Championships. At the West Regional, Mattox earned seventh place and Edwards finished 13th.