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

USTFCCCA Regional Rankings

Sept. 21, 2010-- The North Central College men's cross country team is the Midwest Region's top ranked squad according to the third installment of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association regional rankings, released Tuesday.

The Cardinals climb up one spot from last week, dethroning Washington University's (Mo.) two week run as the Midwest Region's top squad. The Bears fall to second while the third, fourth, and fifth ranked team's in the region remain unchanged from a week ago. The University of Wisconsin-Platteville is third followed by University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (fourth) and University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (fifth). Augustana College is the only other College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin representative in the rankings, climbing up two spots to seventh.

North Central's rise to the No. 1 spot comes after finishing second among the 32-team field at the Illinois Intercollegiate Championships on Friday at the Weibring Golf Course. The Cardinals finished behind only the University of Illinois at the meet that featured squads from all three NCAA divisions, the NAIA, and junior college ranks. Illinois, ranked eighth in the NCAA Division I Midwest Region, scored 25 points while North Central accumulated 51 points, outdistancing third-place University of Illinois-Chicago by 81 points.

Michael Spain claimed the individual title at the race by a three second margin, finishing the 8,000-meter course in 24:23, earning CCIW Runner of the Week accolades for his efforts.

The Cardinals have the week off before returning to action on Oct. 1 as the top squad heads to South Bend, Ind. for the Notre Dame Invitational while the rest of the team heads north to Somers, Wis. for the Carthage Invitational.