FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Men's and Women's National Rankings

Jan. 26, 2011 - The North Central College women's track and field team is rated 12th nationally among NCAA Division III institutions, according to the first release of National Team Computer Rankings by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The computer rankings are new for the 2011 season. Mathematical formulae based on current national descending-order lists in all events are used to compile a team's ranking. The purpose of the rankings is to create an index that showcases the teams that have the best potential of achieving the top spots at the NCAA Division III National Championships.

After opening the season on Friday in the Cardinal Opener, North Central has 49.69 points in this week's rankings. The Cardinals are among three College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin teams in the top 25, joining seventh-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University (63.44) and 10th-ranked Carthage College (53.56). Illinois Wesleyan is the defending Division III outdoor national champion.

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh owns the top spot in the rankings with a total of 172.72 points, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (122.59), Williams College (119.07), Wartburg College (91.55), and Ramapo College (82.26). Wartburg won last year's indoor national championship.

North Central placed second to UW-Oshkosh in the Cardinal Opener, which also included Carthage and 15th-ranked Emory University (Ga.)

North Central hosts the Cardinal Quad on Friday. Competition is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.