Cross Country Announces Schedule for 2014

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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University cross country teams have announced an exciting schedule for the 2014 season. The Bearcats will host a total of four events and will travel to Alaska and Wisconsin for a pair of regular season meets.

Willamette's home schedule includes traditional events such as the Oak Knoll Loop Run and the 40th Annual Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational. The Loop Run will be held at the Oak Knoll Golf Course near Independence, Ore., while the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational will take place at Bush's Pasture park.

The Bearcats also will host the Northwest Conference Championships at Bush Park on Nov. 1 and will host the NCAA Division III West Regional at Oak Knoll on Nov. 15. The NCAA Division III Championships are set for Mason, Ohio, on Nov. 22, and will be hosted by Wilmington College.

Opening the season for WU will be a meet at the University of Alaska-Anchorage on Sept. 11. The meet will feature a select group of Bearcats and will be held at Kincaid Park in Anchorage.

After host the Loop Run on Sept. 20 and the Charles Bowles Willamette Invitational on Oct. 4, the Bearcats will run at the Mike Hodges Invitational on Oct. 11. The annual meet is hosted by Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, Ore.

Willamette's second lengthy trip will be to the Brooks Invitational in Winneconne, Wis., on Oct. 18. The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh will host the meet at the Lake Breeze Golf Course. Last year, the WU women placed eighth and the Bearcat men took 12th place at the Brooks Invitational.

The NWC Championships, NCAA Regional and NCAA Championships will round out the season. Last year, Willamette won the NWC men's and women's team and individual titles. It was the men's 21st team title and the ninth team championship for the women. At the NCAA Regional, the Bearcats placed second in the women's competition and third in the men's.

At the 2013 NCAA Championships, the Willamette women's team took 12th place. Michaela Freeby earned All-America honors by placing eighth and Parker Bennett claimed All-America recognition in the men's race by placing 32nd.

Head Coach Matt McGuirk was named NWC Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year for the fourth time and was selected NWC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year for the ninth time.