2013-14 Cross Country News

Season
Bennett Wins Second Consecutive NWC Cross Country Title
Bennett Wins Second Consecutive NWC Cross Country Title

SALEM, ORE. -- Winning one conference title in cross country is hard enough, but winning two titles in a row is exceptionally difficult. Even so, that's what happened in the fall of 2013 when Willamette University's Parker Bennett (Sr., Sisters, OR/Sisters HS) achieved his second consecutive Northwest Conference title while leading the Bearcats to their second straight team championship.

Freeby Named Women's West Region Athlete of the Year
Freeby Named Women's West Region Athlete of the Year

SALEM, ORE. -- It has been a career filled with impressive accolades for junior Michaela Freeby (Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS), and the 2013 cross country season only added to it.

Willamette Selected to Host NCAA West Regional in Cross Country
Willamette Selected to Host NCAA West Regional in Cross Country

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University has been selected to host the next NCAA Division III West Regional in cross country at the Oak Knoll Golf Course near Independence, Ore., on Nov. 15, 2014. The Bearcats previously hosted the West Regional at Oak Knoll in 2012, and hosted the event at Bush's Pasture Park in Salem, Ore., in 2001, 2005, 2008 and 2010.

Freeby and Bennett Discuss their Success at NCAA Championships
Freeby and Bennett Discuss their Success at NCAA Championships

HANOVER, IND. -- It was a great day for Willamette University runners Michaela Freeby (Jr., Milwaukie, OR/Milwaukie HS) and Parker Bennett (Sr., Sisters, OR/Sisters HS) on Saturday, Nov. 24 at the 2013 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships. Both runners earned All-America honors, as Freeby took eighth place in the women's race and Bennett was 32nd in the men's race.

Freeby, Bennett Named All-America at NCAA Cross Country Championships
Freeby, Bennett Named All-America at NCAA Cross Country Championships

HANOVER, IND. -- Willamette University's Michaela Freeby (Jr., Milwaukie, OR/Milwaukie HS) and Parker Bennett (Sr., Sisters, OR/Sisters HS) both earned All-America honors, and the Bearcat women achieved a 12th place team finish at the 2013 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, hosted by Hanover College at the L.S. Ayers Athletic Complex on Saturday, Nov. 24.

Bearcat Runners to Compete at NCAA Cross Country Championships
Bearcat Runners to Compete at NCAA Cross Country Championships

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's cross country team, plus one runner from the Bearcat men's cross country team, will compete at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, hosted by Hanover College, on Saturday, Nov. 23 in Hanover, Ind., at the L.S. Ayers Athletic Complex.

Freeby Named West Region Women's Athlete of the Year
Freeby Named West Region Women's Athlete of the Year

SALEM, ORE. -- After finishing ahead of the pack during last week's NCAA Division III West Regional in cross country, Michaela Freeby (Jr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) of Willamette University was named the West Region Women's Athlete of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Bennett Receives Individual Bid to Compete at NCAA Championships
Bennett Receives Individual Bid to Compete at NCAA Championships

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University runner Parker Bennett (Sr., Sisters, OR/Sisters HS) has officially received an individual automatic bid to compete at the 2013 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the L.S. Ayres Athletic Complex in Hanover, Ind.

Freeby Wins Regional Title, as Willamette Women Clinch Bid to Nationals
Freeby Wins Regional Title, as Willamette Women Clinch Bid to Nationals

CLAREMONT, CALIF. -- Michaela Freeby (Jr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) from Willamette University won the women's individual championship at the NCAA West Regional on Saturday, Nov. 16, helping the Bearcat women's team earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.

Bearcats Travel to California for NCAA West Region Championships
Bearcats Travel to California for NCAA West Region Championships

CLAREMONT, CALIF. -- The Willamette University cross country teams are in Claremont, Calif., to compete at the 2013 NCAA Division III West Region Championships on Saturday, Nov. 16. Pomona-Pitzer is hosting the meet, which will include 20 men's team and 21 women's teams.

WU Men's Cross Country Team is Ranked #23, Women's Team is #28
WU Men's Cross Country Team is Ranked #23, Women's Team is #28

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University men's cross country team was ranked #23 and the Bearcat women's team was ranked #28 in the NCAA Division III Poll for each sport this week after the Bearcats swept the Northwest Conference team and individual titles last weekend.

Bearcats Sweep NWC Team Championships, as Freeby and Bennett win Titles
Bearcats Sweep NWC Team Championships, as Freeby and Bennett win Titles

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Willamette University runners Michaela Freeby (Jr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) and Parker Bennett (Sr., Sisters, OR/Sisters HS) won individual titles, and the Bearcats claimed both team titles, as the 2013 Northwest Conference Cross Country Championships were held on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Downriver Golf Course.

Bearcats Ready to Battle for Titles at NWC Championships
Bearcats Ready to Battle for Titles at NWC Championships

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Willamette University and all of its Northwest Conference rivals will be at the Downriver Golf Course in Spokane, Wash., on Saturday, Nov. 2 for the 2013 NWC Cross Country Championships. Action will get underway with the women's 6-kilometer race at 11 a.m. (PDT), with the men's 8-kilometer race to follow at 12 p.m.

Bennett Earns NWC Men's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week
Bennett Earns NWC Men's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week

SALEM, ORE. -- Senior runner Parker Bennett (Sisters, OR/Sisters HS) of Willamette University has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Men's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts at the Brooks Invitational in Winneconne, Wis., this past weekend.

Freeby Chosen as NWC Women's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week
Freeby Chosen as NWC Women's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University runner Michaela Freeby (Jr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) has been selected as the Northwest Conference Women's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week after taking third place at the Brooks Invitational in Winneconne, Wis., on Oct. 19. Freeby achieved a personal record time of 21:27.33.

Freeby Places Third, Bennett is 21st, at Brooks Invitational
Freeby Places Third, Bennett is 21st, at Brooks Invitational

WINNECONNE, WIS. -- Michaela Freeby (Jr., Milwaukie, OR/Rex Putnam HS) ran a personal record time of 21:27.33 to finish in third place over the 6-kilometer course while leading Willamette University to eighth place in the women's team standings at the Brooks Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 19. Freeby moved into third on Willamette's all-time list for 6K races.