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

Day One Results

Day Two Results

Heptathlon Results

Rock Island, Ill. (May 7, 2011)-- Winning seven events and tallying nine provisional qualifiers the North Central College women's track & field team secured the second triple crown in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin history, blowing away the competition at the Outdoor Championships at Augustana College's Ericson Field.

The 19th-ranked Cardinals are the second women's program to achieve the triple crown (titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field) in one academic year since the conference began sponsorship of all three sports in 2000-2001. North Central also achieved the feat during the 2006-2007 calender year.

North Central amassed 236 points in the team total with Carthage College placing a distant second with 144.5 points. Defending champion Illinois Wesleyan University was third with 124 points while Wheaton College was fourth (110). Host Augustana was fifth (108.5) followed by Millikin University (83), Elmhurst College (nine) and North Park University (four).

North Central jumped to the early lead in the team standings with three event winners in day one of competition on Friday. The Cardinals tallied a 1-2 finish in the 10,000-meter run with Lauren Hooks winning the event in 37:45.99 with Amanda Laesch close behind in 37:46.32. Brianna Tolliver provisionally qualified in the javelin throw, breaking her own school record after tossing 130 feet, 7 inches, to win the event while Kristine Zizis was third with a throw of 111' 9".

Carolyn Kalafut was the third event winner on Friday, claiming the pole vault with a clearance of 11' 2 1/4" while Alicia Zimmerman was third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a provisional qualifying time of 11:07.66, giving the Cardinals a 42.5-point lead after day one of action.

On Saturday, Sheila Walsh captured the 400-meter dash in a provisional qualifying effort of 56.23 seconds while also placing third in the 400-meter hurdles in 64.42. Teammate Lauren Brightmore was fourth in the 400-meter dash, clocking a national qualifying time of 56.89.

Amanda Laesch prevailed in the 5,000-meters, winning by over 25 seconds in 18:20.56 while also finishing third in the 1,500-meters in a provisional time of 4:37.71.

Melissa Savino sprinted to the victory in the 100-meter hurdles, finishing in 15.14 after provisional qualifyiong in the prelims on Friday with a time of 14.96 while Michelle Criscione won the high jump with a provisional qualifying clearance of 5' 5 1/4".

Krista Cota was second in the 800-meters, clocking a provisional qualifying time of 2:13.87 while Kala Bingham was third in 2:15.38. Cota additionally placed third in the high jump with a leap of 5' 3 1/4".

Tolliver finished runner-up in the triple jump with a mark of 36' 4 3/4" while the Cardinals received third place finishes from Jocelyn Redlinski in the heptathlon (4,088 points) and the 4x100-meter relay team (48.77). Chelsea Armstrong was fourth in the discus throw, uncorking a provisional qualifying toss of 140' 11".

The 19th-ranked Cardinals return to action on Thursday for day one of the Dr. Keeler Invitational hosted at Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.