Pirate Women Move Up One Spot, Men Hold Steady

Whitworth at Runners Soul/Eric Anderson Invite Saturday, September 26th - 10:45 a.m. Live Results

SPOKANE, Wash. -- The Whitworth University cross country teams will run in Spokane for the only time this season when the Pirates lace up for Saturday's Runner's Soul / Eric Anderson Invitational at Plantes Ferry Park. The collegiate women's 5 kilometer race will start at 10:45 a.m., with the college men's 8k race following at 11:30 a.m.

The Pirate women moved up one spot to 17th in the national top-35 poll, according to the latest USATFCCCA ratings released yesterday. The men held on to 22nd spot in the national poll. Both teams are currently ranked first in the west region.

USATFCCCA Women's Poll (PDF) / USATFCCCA Men's Poll (PDF)

The Whitworth women are coming off of a third place finish in the Open race at the University of Washington Sundodger Invitational. It is the highest-ever finish for the Pirate women at that race. Dana Misterek (Jr., Gig Harbor, Wash.) was named the NWC Women's Cross Country Student-Athlete of the Week after finishing fourth overall in the race. The Whitworth men, competing without #1 runner Nick Gallagher (Jr., Bedford, Iowa), still posted a strong fifth-place finish as a team, the highest among Division III schools in the 20-team meet.

The Coach: The fall of 2009 marks Dr. Toby Schwarz's 12th season as head coach of the Whitworth Cross Country program. In 2008 Schwarz led the Pirate men to a Northwest Conference title and the NCAA DIII West Regional Championship, which qualified them for their first ever NCAA Championships meet. In 2002 Schwarz led the Whitworth women to an NCAA West Region title and the team's first-ever berth to the NCAA Championships. Schwarz was named the NCAA West Region women's Coach of the Year in 2002, the men’s Coach of the Year in 2008; and was honored as the NWC Men’s Coach of the Year in 2008.

Coach Schwarz's Quotes: Toby Schwarz talks about the season so far, how his men and women have held up to the training, and what he expects from this weekend's race. Click here to listen to Coach Schwarz's Quotes.