Bearcat Cross Country Teams Continue to be Nationally Ranked

By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University's cross country teams continued to be nationally ranked this week, with the Bearcat men's team ranked #31 and the Bearcat women's team ranked #30 in the most recent NCAA Division III Polls released by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Additionally, both Willamette teams were ranked #3 in the West Region.

The top of the men's National Poll remained unchanged from last week's rankings, with North Central College (Ill.) ranked #1, garnering all eight first place votes and 280 points. Haverford College (Pa.) was ranked #2 with 271 points.

Washington University (Mo.) remained #3 in the poll with 259 points, with SUNY Geneseo (N.Y.) at #4 with 257 points, and Bates College (Maine) at #5 with 237 points. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) was the top-ranked West Region team at #23.

In the men's West Region Rankings, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps remained the #1 team. Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) moved up one spot to #2, while Willamette slipped one place to #3. The Northwest Conference was heavily represented in this week's Regional Poll, with Whitworth University at #4, the University of Puget Sound at #5, and George Fox University at #9.

By contrast, there was quite a bit of movement at the top of the women's National Poll. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which garnered six first place votes and 277 points, took over the #1 ranking from Middlebury College (Vt.), which slipped to #3 with 257 points. Washington University jumped two spots to #2, receiving the remaining two first place votes and 266 points. Johns Hopkins University (Md.) garnered 255 votes at #4.

Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, at #5 with 249 points, was the highest ranked West Region women's team in the National Poll. Lewis & Clark College moved up three spots to #24.

In the women's West Region Rankings, CMS, Lewis & Clark, Willamette, and Pomona-Pitzer all remained unchanged at spots #1 to #4. Linfield College and Whitman College each moved up one spot to #5 and #6, respectively. Fellow NWC members Whitworth (#8) and George Fox (#10) helped round out the top 10.