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

USTFCCCA Top 25 Rankings

Feb. 19, 2014 - The North Central College women's track and field team has moved up four places to No. 11 in the nation this week, according to the most recent NCAA Division III National Team Computer Rankings released Wednesday by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Cardinals received 58.03 points in this week's installment of national rankings, which is the first not to include performances of returning athletes from the 2013 campaign. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has moved up to the No. 1 spot for the first time this season with 171.37 points, followed by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (143.21), the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (139.28), Wartburg College (136.90) and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater (99.38).

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 is one of two College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) teams to be ranked in the top 25, joined by ninth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University.

The Cardinals placed second in the Chicagoland Indoor Championships on Friday at Al B. Carius Track, breaking four school records in the process. Ebony Stallworth broke her own school records in the shot put (45 feet, 4 1/4 inches) and 20-pound weight throw (51'3"), while Madison Renfro set a new record in the 60-meter hurdles (9.00 seconds) and Jacki McKown established a new standard in the 1,000-meter run (3:06.16).

Stallworth currently ranks fifth in the nation in the shot put, while pole vaulters Elizabeth Composto and Brooke Patterson rank third (12'7 1/2") and eighth (12'1 1/2"), respectively, and multi-event athlete Jocelyn Redlinski sits ninth in the pentathlon (3,382).

North Central hosts the Cardinal Classic on Friday. Field events are set to begin at 4:30 p.m. with running events to follow at 5:00.