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

USTFCCCA Rankings

Oct. 5, 2010-- The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released the fifth installment of the regional rankings on Tuesday with the North Central College women's cross country squad maintaining its No. 7 ranking within the Midwest Region.

The Cardinals remained the region's seventh ranked squad for the second consecutive week as the top eight remained unchanged from a week ago. Washington University in Saint Louis continues its hold on the top position, followed by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in second and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in third. The University of Chicago is fourth with the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point rounding out the top five.

College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin rivals Wheaton College and Illinois Wesleyan University remain ranked, swapping positions this week as the Thunder rise to ninth and the Titans fall to 10th.

North Central finished third at the Carthage College Invitational on Oct. 1, sending a squad comprised entirely of freshman. Jacki McKown paced the Cardinals, finishing the 6,000-meter race in 24:51.2 to finish sixth while Tanya Starkey finished to spots back in eighth in 24:57.3.

The Cardinals will compete as a split-squad this weekend, sending the top squad to Waverly, Iowa on Saturday, Oct. 9 for the Wartburg College Pre-Nationals Invitational while the remainder of the team will compete on Friday at the Benedictine Invitational in Lisle, Ill.