FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

CCIW Release

Feb. 1, 2011--The North Central College men's track & field squad swept the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin weekly awards for the second consecutive week as Daniel Benton was named Track Athlete of the Week and John Wood was honored as Field Athlete of the Week.

Benton earns the nod after winning the 400-meter dash in a provisional qualifying time of 49.15 seconds at Friday's NCC Quadrangular at the Al B. Carius Track. His time tied his own facility record in the event and is currently the fastest time in NCAA Division III this season. Benton additionally was a member of the Cardinals' winning 4x400-meter relay squad, helping the team finish in 3:22.99.

Wood is named the Field Athlete of the Week after winning the pole vault, clearing an automatic qualifying height of 16 feet 8 3/4 inches. Wood's clearance is currently tied for the top vault in NCAA Division III this season with teammate Josh Winder.

The Cardinals swept CCIW Athlete of the Week honors on Jan. 25 as well with Michael Spain earning Track Athlete of the Week and Winder earning Field Athlete of the Week.

North Central continued its early season domination at Friday's NCC Quadrangular, as the top-ranked Cardinals scored 299 points at the meet. Third-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater was a distant second with 179 points.

North Central returns to action on Friday, Feb. 4, sending a majority of the team to Whitewater, Wis. for the Squig Converse Invitational while select individuals will attend the IWU Pentathlon in Bloomington, Ill.