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

Complete Regional Top 10 Rankings

May 12, 2010-- The North Central College women's track and field squad is ranked second in the Midwest Region in the sixth installment of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Regional Team Index Top 10 Rankings, released Wednesday.

The Cardinals 369.52 points is bettered only by College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin rival Illinois Wesleyan University and the Titans' 429.69 points. The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh is third (306.64 points) with Washington University in Saint Louis (302.90 points) and the University of Chicago (282.58 points) rounding out the top five.

The Regional Team Index uses data provided by Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS) for only the 2010 outdoor season and is a reflection of a team's all-around strength. The regional team index is scored using the current national-team ranking formula as if there were eight separate regional championships across the country.

North Central placed second at last weekend's CCIW Outdoor Championships, recording six event winners and five national qualifying performances. Amanda Laesch was a dual-winner, claiming titles in the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter runs while Rachel Secrest (pole vault), Kristine Zizis (javelin) and Michelle Criscione (high jump) were crowned champions in their respective field events. Samantha Bunsen, Lauren Brightmore, Maggie Lapinski and Sheila Walsh earned the squad's sixth event win, closing out the meet with a victory in the 4x400-meter relay.

The Cardinals host the Dr. Keeler Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.