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

USTFCCCA Top 25 Rankings

May 9, 2012-- The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its seventh installment of the NCAA Division III National Team Rankings for the outdoor season on Wednesday with the North Central College men's track & field team remaining fourth.

The Cardinals tallied 147.07 points in the week six rankings, holding steady at No. 4 for the seventh consecutive week. McMurry University (Texas) remains atop the poll, garnering 231.26 points followed by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (171.71 points) and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (159.00 points). The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater rounds out the top five (142.03) while College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin rival Augustana College is 10th, securing 71.38 points.

The computer rankings were first introduced during 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.

North Central captured its 34th CCIW Outdoor Championship on Saturday at Illinois Wesleyan University, securing 285 points in the team standings to outdistance the runner-up Augustana by a 68.5-point margin. Three Cardinals were crowned conference champions while 13 more secured second place finishes. John Wood won the pole vault with a clearance of 17 feet, 3/4 inch, helping power a top five sweep in the event while on the track, Dan Kerley captured the 10,000-meter run in 31 minutes, 8.60 seconds and Jon Howard won the 400-meter dash (48.22).

The Cardinals host the Dr. Keeler Invitational on Thursday and Friday. Action is slated to get underway at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday and resumes at 3 p.m. on Friday.