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

USTFCCCA Top 25 Rankings

Feb. 1, 2012-- The North Central College men's track & field team maintained its grip on the No. 1 ranking as the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its week two NCAA Division III National Team Computer Rankings on Wednesday.

The Cardinals tallied 180.78 points, remaining the nation's top squad for the third straight poll. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (151.45 points) and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (132.70 points) held steady at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively while Amherst College (Mass.) jumped up two spots to fourth, accumulating 72.49 points. McMurry University (Texas) rounds out the top five with 72.34 points.

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 had 12 event-winners on Saturday, easily winning the NCC Quadrangular. Highlighting the meet was Jake Winder capturing the pole vault, clearing a national-leading 17 feet, 4 1/2 inches, while the 4x400-meter relay team of Mustapha Olaoye, Dionte Hackler, Dan Benton and Bai Kabba clocked a time of  3 minutes, 16.62 seconds, a time that leads NCAA Division III by over two seconds.

North Central returns to action on Friday, sending multi-event athletes to Bloomington, Ill. for a meet at Illinois Wesleyan University while the rest of the squad heads to Whitewater, Wis. for the Squig Converse Invitational.