Bearcats Set to Compete at NCAA Championships in Men's Cross Country
By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- It's an exciting weekend ahead for the Willamette University men's cross country team, as the Bearcats will compete in the team and individual standings at the 2015 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships. Willamette has a full team entry in the 8-kilometer men's championship race for the first time since 2010.
The Bearcats received a team at-large bid to the NCAA Championships and are ready to perform at their best after earning the trip to Winneconne, Wisconsin, for the title race on Saturday, Nov. 21. Willamette will be represented by seven athletes on the men's team.
Set to run for the Bearcats are Nathan Conrad (Sr., Bothell, WA/Bothell HS), Yonny Castillo (Sr., Parkdale, OR/Hood River Valley HS), Patrick Loftus (So., Healdsburg, CA/Sonoma Academy), Jacob Shafi (Sr., Pleasanton, CA/Amador Valley HS), Hunter Matthies (Sr., Moran, WY/Jackson Hole HS), Keith Carlson (Fr., Bainbridge Island, WA//Bainbridge HS), and Jack Kobylka (So., Napa, CA/Vintage HS).
Conrad, Castillo, Loftus and Shafi each earned All-West Region honors by placing in the top 35 at the West Regional in Claremont, California, on Nov. 14. Conrad placed sixth by completing the race in 25:53.12. Castillo took 14th place in 26:13.20. Loftus claimed 21st place at 26:27.60 and Shafi was 30th at 26:38.24.
In addition, Willamette won its fourth consecutive Northwest Conference men's team championship on Oct. 31. Conrad finished third, while Castillo was fifth, Shafi was sixth, Loftus was seventh and Carlson was 10th. Head Coach Matt McGuirk was chosen NWC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year.
The top five teams in this week's final NCAA Division III National Coaches Poll released by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) are among the favorites to claim the team title at the NCAA Championships.
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire is ranked #1, while Willams College (Mass.) is listed at #2 and North Central College (Ill.) is #3. Last year, North Central won its fourth NCAA men's championship in six years. It was North Central's 16th men's team title overall.
Amherst College (Mass.) is the #4 team in the poll. St. Olaf College (Minn.) is ranked #5.
All 32 teams qualifying for the NCAA Championships will have a shot at the national title. Willamette is ranked #29 after placing third in the West Regional.
The men's championship race is set for 12 p.m. CST/10 a.m. PST at the Lake Breeze Golf Course. The women's championship race will start at 11 a.m. CST/9 a.m. PST.