BELLINGHAM, Wash. – It's crunch time for the Western Washington University men's and women's cross country teams with the postseason closing in.
 
The Vikings will compete in the final regular-season meets of the season with a contingent heading to the prestigious Lewis Crossover in Romeoville, Illinois and a large group also racing at the Emerald City Open in Seattle's Lower Woodland Park.
 
The Lewis Crossover will be a key meet for the Vikings heading into the postseason with several of the top teams in the nation competing on the Lewis Cross Country Course. Last year the men placed third and women seventh at the Lewis Crossover.
 
The Vikings enter the weekend of competition with both teams holding national rankings. The men's squad is ranked No. 11 in the USTFCCCA Division II poll and No. 3 in the West Region. The Viking women are listed No. 27 nationally and No. 4 in the West.
 
WWU is coming off a successful showing at the Bill Roe Classic on September 23 at Lake Padden Park, with the Viking men winning their second race in as many starts this season and the women placing second.
 
The GNAC Championships will be held October 21 in Anchorage, Alaska and the West Regional Championships are set for November 4 in Monmouth, Oregon.
 
The complete 2023 WWU Cross Country schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/23_XC.
  WWU will send 15 total runners to the Lewis Crossover with competition held Saturday beginning at 9:45 am CT/7:45 am PT with the women's 6K and following with the men's 8K at 10:30 am CT/8:30 am PT. Live results for the Lewis Crossover can be tracked at the following link and a webcast will be provided online.
 
WWU Men at Lewis Crossover:

• Kevin McDermott
• Jeret Gillingham
• Andrew Oslin
• Jalen Javurek
• Sam Lingwall
• Will Henry
• Jason Blinn

 
WWU Women at Lewis Crossover:

• Ashley Reeck
• Mia Crocker
• Ila Davis
• Ella Edens
• Meaera Nystrom
• Marian Ledesma
• Alanna Parker
• Sophie Wright

  The remainder of the team will compete in the Emerald City Open on Saturday at Lower Woodland Park in Seattle. The men's 8K will open racing at 10:30 am followed by the women's 6K at 11:15 am.
  Both the WWU men's and women's cross country programs hold regional and national rankings in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) polls:
 

• WWU Men: No. 3 in West Region, No. 11 in NCAA II
• WWU Women: No. 4 in West Region, No. 27 in NCAA II

  Fans can follow WWU Cross Country online at WWUVikings.com/XC, and via social media on Twitter (@WWUTFXC), Instagram (@WWUTFXC) and Facebook (@WWUTFXC).