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

Feb. 9, 2010-- For her performance at Saturday's Warhawk Classic, North Central College's Rachel Secrest has been honored as the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Women's Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week.

Secrest established a new school record in the pole vault, winning the event after clearing an automatic qualifying height of 13 feet 2 1/4 inches, breaking former teammate Megan Rossi's mark of 12'11 1/2" set back in 2007. Her vault currently leads the nation and is the only Division III competitor this season to surpass 13'. The senior additionally placed second in the long jump with a leap of 16'9 3/4".

Secrest becomes the second North Central athlete to capture the award this season. Michelle Criscione was honored as the CCIW Field Athlete of the Week on Jan. 26 after winning the high jump at the First Meet Ever.

The 12th-ranked Cardinals finished fourth at the Warhawk Classic hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, scoring 97 points. Winona State University (Minn.) of Division II claimed the team title with 134.5 points while CCIW-rival Augustana College finished a distant seventh.

North Central returns to the track on Friday, traveling to Romeoville, Ill. for the Chicagoland Championships hosted by Lewis University.