FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Results

WHITEWATER, Wis. (Feb. 1, 2013) - Up against a field packed with highly-ranked opponents for the second time in three weeks, the North Central College men's track and field team proved to be equal to the task at Friday's University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Squig Converse Invitational. The third-ranked Cardinals finished at the top of the nine-team field, which included the top four ranked NCAA Division III squads in the nation.

North Central finished with 142 points, well clear of the No. 1-ranked University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, which placed second with 110. Fourth-ranked Wisconsin-Whitewater placed third with 104 points and the second-ranked University of Wisconsin-La Crosse finished fourth with 96.5.

The Cardinals won five of the 17 contested events, including a nation-leading performance from John Crain in the 5,000-meter run. The junior clocked an indoor personal-best time of 14 minutes, 24.22 seconds to finish nearly 10 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor. His finishing time ranks first among all Division III competitors thus far this season.

Peter Geraghty won the pole vault for the third straight meet, matching his season best with a clearance of 17 feet, 3/4 inch. He led a 1-2-3 finish in the event for North Central, as Josh Winder cleared 16'6 3/4" to place second and Frank Wleklinski finished third at 15'7".Dionte Hackler picked up first place in the 400-meter dash in 49.84 seconds, narrowly edging out teammate Mustapha Olaoye (49.86) at the finish line. 

The Cardinals won two of the three relay events run during the meet, as Dayton Henriksen, Randal Ellison, Robert Lott and Abraham Oshipitan won the 4x200-meter relay in 1:30.05 and Ellison later teamed with Pat Foley, Richard Ruske and Yonatan Mascote to win the distance medley relay (10:32.06).

Matt Muth and Aron Sebhat finished second (4:20.98) and third (4:21.02), respectively, in the mile run, while the 4x400-meter relay team of Henriksen, Hackler, Olaoye and Marlen Hamilton placed second in a season-best time of 3:19.05 and Zach Heerspink came in third in the high jump (6'5").

The Cardinals host the Chicagoland Indoor Championships on Saturday, Feb. 9. Action at Al B. Carius Track is scheduled to get under way at 11:30 a.m.