North Central College Cardinals

Career Highlights: Seven-time NCAA Division III national champion in the pole vault; Eight-time All-American; Seven-time CCIW champion; Two-time CCIW Field Athlete of the Meet; NCAA Division III outdoor pole vault record holder at the time of induction; North Central and CCIW indoor and outdoor record holder at the time of induction; Contributed to two NCAA Division III Indoor Championship team titles; Two-time USTFCCCA National Field Athlete of the Year; Four-time USTFCCCA Midwest Region Field Athlete of the Year; Competed for Team USA at the 2022 World Athletics Championships 

 

Luke Winder ’18/M’21 established himself as one of the most accomplished pole vaulters in NCAA Division III history during a remarkable five-year career at North Central College. He made an immediate impact as a freshman, winning the indoor and outdoor national titles in the pole vault while setting North Central freshman records in both seasons. As a sophomore, Winder successfully defended both national titles, breaking championship meet records and climbing to second on the Division III all-time indoor list while establishing a new North Central record of 18’1.25”. His junior campaign proved historic, as he broke the Division III outdoor record with a clearance of 18’4.5”, became North Central’s first individual champion at the Drake Relays, and emerged as the first athlete in Division III history to win six combined indoor and outdoor national titles in the pole vault. Winder also helped lead the Cardinals to the 2017 NCAA Division III Indoor Championship team title on their home track. An injury at the start of his senior indoor season interrupted his dominance, but Winder returned outdoors to earn All-America honors with a runner-up finish in the pole vault before taking advantage of a fifth year of indoor eligibility in 2019. He capped one of the finest careers in collegiate track & field history by winning his fourth indoor national championship, becoming the first collegiate pole vaulter to claim four indoor titles and seven combined NCAA championships in the event. He also helped North Central capture the team title at the 2019 NCAA Division III Indoor Championships. Winder concluded his career as an eight-time All-American, four-time USTFCCCA Midwest Region Outdoor Field Athlete of the Year, and two-time USTFCCCA National Field Athlete of the Year. He became just the 12th athlete in Division III history to earn All-America honors four times indoors and outdoors in a single event. At the time of his induction, Winder held North Central’s indoor and outdoor pole vault records, the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) indoor and outdoor meet and open records, and the NCAA Division III outdoor pole vault record. Following his collegiate career, he competed professionally and represented Team USA at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.