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

Complete USTFCCCA Rankings

Feb. 23, 2011-- The North Central College women's track & field team continues its climb in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Team Computer Rankings on Wednesday, jumping up three spots to sixth in the week five poll.

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.

The Cardinals tallied 67.80 points in the fifth installment of the rankings, jumping from ninth to sixth in the process. North Central is one of three College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin squads in the top 25 rankings, joined by 10th-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University (59.09 points) and 12th-ranked Carthage College (54.07 points).

The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh remains the nation's top squad, garnering 191.92 points followed by Wartburg College (Iowa) with 143.15. Massachusetts Institute of Technology rounds out the top three with 95.91 points.

North Central had little difficulty winning Friday's Cardinal Classic, outscoring runner-up Lewis University by 63 points. Cardinal athletes claimed six event victories and tallied four provisional qualifiers while breaking one school record. Sprinter Sheila Walsh and thrower Chelsea Armstrong were both honored as CCIW Athletes of the Week for their effort at the meet.

The Cardinals return to action on Friday, Feb. 25, traveling to Bloomington, Ill. for day one of the CCIW Indoor Championships hosted by Illinois Wesleyan University.