Seattle Pacific and Western Washington rewarded with at-large berths to NCAA D2 champs...

INDIANAPOLIS—The NCAA awarded at-large berths to the Division II cross country championships in Sacramento on November 23rd to the Seattle Pacific women’s team and both Western Washington teams.

Seattle Pacific, which was ranked number 14 in the last USTFCCCA national coaches’ poll, finished fifth at the NCAA West Regionals in Monmouth, Oregon last Saturday, while reigning Great Northwest Athletic Conference champion Western Washington slipped to seventh at regionals.

Seattle Pacific and Western Washington join Northwest Nazarene, who shocked the field by finishing second at regionals, as the three teams representing the GNAC at the national championships.

For Western Washington, this marks the program’s ninth trip to the national championships.  Seattle Pacific earns its nineteenth trip to the national championships.

The Viking men’s team, which finished fifth at the regional championships last week, benefitted from the deep West Region to earn the program’s eleventh invitation to the national championships.  Western is one of 19 NCAA D2 schools to qualify both its mens’ and women’s teams for the national championships.

"I am beyond excited, and a little relieved to be honest, as this is where both of our teams belong," said WWU head coach Pee Wee Halsell. "Both had fantastic seasons that went up against top competition all year long, and their efforts, training and dedication have been rewarded. I know they are both going down to Sacramento on a mission and will be ready to go."

"For them to stay focused the past few weeks, they've continued to pour their heart and soul into each other and into the team," said Seattle Pacific associate head coach Chris Reed. "That has really showed in the last couple of meets. They've run well in a championship setting, and what a treat to go to one more championship setting and go against the best women in the division."

The Falcons will go to Sacramento as one of only eight women’s teams that have run on the national championship course this season.

Seattle Pacific’s release is available here, while Western Washington’s is available here.

NOTE:  The NCAA, and the sports information offices of Seattle Pacific and Western Washington University contributed to this report.