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

USTFCCCA Top 25 Rankings

Jan. 25, 2012-- The North Central College women's track & field squad remains the nation's 14th-ranked squad as the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its first NCAA Division III National Team Computer Rankings of the regular season on Wednesday.

The Cardinals maintained their preseason position of No. 14, tallying 44.37 points in the rankings. North Central is one of two College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin squads in the rankings, joining fourth-ranked Illinois Wesleyan University (82.04 points).

Wartburg College (Iowa) remains the nation's top squad with 190.38 points followed by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (147.45 points) and Williams College (115.32).

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 opened up its 2012 indoor season on Friday, hosting the Cardinal Opener at the Al B. Carius Track. The Cardinals ran away with the team title, tallying 210 points while Emory University (Ga.) was second at the five-team event with 124.5 points. Second-ranked UW-Oshkosh was third with a team tally of 121.

The Cardinals return to the track on Saturday, hosting the NCC Quadrangular with events getting underway at 12 p.m.