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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's and women's track and field teams are both listed at #3 on this week's West Region Team Index for NCAA Division III as released by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Wednesday, April 14. The regional index is a measure of each team's all-around strength in relation to other teams in the same region.

In the women's West Region index, the top three teams are separated by just over 5.13 points. Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.) is #1 with 387.27 points. California Lutheran University holds the #2 spot with 385.90 points and Willamette is third with 382.14 points.

The University of Redlands (Calif.) is #4 with 367.82 points and Occidental College (Calif.) is listed at #5 with 318.02 points. In addition to Willamette, other Northwest Conference teams included in the women's rankings are George Fox University at #6, Whitworth at #8, Linfield College at #9 and Pacific Lutheran University at #10.

Whitworth University is #1 in the men's West Region index. The Pirates have 538.96 points. Claremont-Mudd-Scrips is #2 with 517.72 points. Willamette holds #3 in the rankings with 474.38 points this week.

Rounding out the top five are Redlands at #4 with 364.53 points and Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) at #5 with 212.86 points. Joining Whitworth and Willamette from the NWC in the men's rankings is Pacific Lutheran at #8 and Linfield at #10.

Willamette's next competition will be at the WU/WOU Mini Meet on Thursday, April 15 at the Charles Bowles Track. Action between the Bearcats and Western Oregon University is set to get underway at 3 p.m. (PDT).