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

NORMAL, Ill. (Sep. 18, 2009) -- Competing amongst a 33-team field representing all three NCAA divisions, the North Central College men's cross country team rose to the top, edging past the University of Illinois, 56-72, for the team title Friday afternoon at the Illinois Intercollegiate Championships held at the Weiburg Golf Club. It was the Cardinals third straight team championship after recording perfect scores at both the Elmhurst Early Bird and the Bradley Invitational in consecutive weeks.

Kyle Brady and Michael Spain led the charge for the Cardinals, placing back-to-back in fifth and sixth places, respectively, with just one second separating the two. Brady crossed the finish line in 24:46 with Spain clocking a 24:47 for the 8,000 meter course. Nathaniel Hird finished 11th in 24:57 while Neal Klein turned in a time of 25:12. Ryan Carrigan rounded out North Central's top five, clocking a 25:22 to place 18th overall.

Rend Lake College's Stephen Sambu won the race, completing the course in just 23:48.

North Central combined to score 56 points in the team tally edging out Illinois by 16 points. Rend Lake finished third with 83 points while host Illinois State University placed fourth with a score of 119. Loyola University Chicago rounded out the top five, turning in a team total of 138. College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin rival Augustana College finished a distant seventh with 183 points.

The team's previous best finish at the Illinois Intercollegiates was a runner-up finish in 1983.

The Cardinals take next week off before splitting the squad on October 2, sending the varsity to the prestigious Notre Dame Invitational while the rest of the team heads north to Kenosha, Wis. for the Carthage Invitational.