FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Complete USTFCCCA Coaches' Poll

Oct. 13, 2010-- The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its week five NCAA Division III Top 35 Coaches' Poll on Wednesday with the North Central College women's cross country team climbing back into the rankings at No. 35.

The Cardinals are 35th in the sixth installment of the weekly rankings, returning after a two-week hiatus. North Central, ranked seventh within the Midwest Region by the USTFCCCA, is the only College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin institution to be represented in the poll.

Middlebury College (Vt.) is the nation's No. 1 squad for the third consecutive week, accumulating all eight first place votes with Saint Lawrence University (N.Y.) and Williams College (Mass.) holding the second and the third positions in the rankings.

The Cardinals' climb back into the national rankings coincides with a strong showing on Saturday at Wartburg College's Dan Huston Pre-National Invitational in Waverly, Iowa. North Central finished third amongst the 23-team field that included two teams ranked in the top 15. The Cardinals tallied 121 points finishing only behind host and 12th-ranked Wartburg College (65 points) and 14th-ranked Saint Olaf College (Minn.) (99 points).

Amanda Laesch finished the 6,000-meter course in 22:23 to finish third overall, earning her fourth CCIW Runner of the Week honor of the season. Teammate Lauren Hooks was 13th after clocking a 23:22.

North Central returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 16, sending the top team to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Brooks Invitational in Winneconne, Wis. while the rest of the squad will head west to Dixon, Ill. for the Skyhawk Invitational.