Nov. 23, 2011

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Spurred by two standout performances in cross country, Western Washington University ranks ninth in the first set of fall Division II Learfield Sports Directors' Cup standings for 2011-12 released Wednesday.

The Vikings accumulated 114 points as they placed 10th in the men's division and 12th in the women's division at the NCAA Division II national championships last Saturday in Spokane.

That gives WWU a solid start in search of its fourth straight top 10 all-sports ranking among over 300 Division II schools.

Last year, the Vikings placed seventh after being sixth in 2009-10 and 10th in 2008-09.

WWU's national all-sports finishes the last two years are the highest in Great Northwest Athletic Conference history.