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

Oct. 7, 2009 -- The North Central College women's cross country squad moved up one spot to seventh in the fifth installment of the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Regional Rankings, released this week.

Washington University in Saint Louis remained atop the Midwest Region while UW-Eau Claire jumped to second. UW-La Crosse and UW-Oshkosh each dropped one spot to third and fourth, respectively while the University of Chicago rounds out the top five. North Central improved to seventh and remains the top-ranked College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin team. CCIW-rivals Wheaton College and Illinois Wesleyan University each moved up a spot this week to eighth and ninth.

The Cardinals climb in the rankings coincides with their fourth straight top ten finish. North Central finish sixth overall at the 19-team UW-Eau Claire Blugold Open last Friday and was third among Division III institutions. Lauren Hooks led the charge for North Central, clocking a 23:15 and earning CCIW Runner of the Week accolades for her efforts.

North Central returns to action on Friday, making the short trip to Lisle, Ill. for the Benedictine University Invitational.