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

Results

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (Nov. 16, 2013) - Emerging at the front of the pack in perhaps the nation's toughest region with relative ease, the North Central College men's cross country team took another convincing step toward a third straight national title Saturday, as the Cardinals topped a 39-team field in the NCAA Division III MIdwest Region Championship at Saukie Golf Course.

The Cardinals overtook a field that included eight nationally-ranked opponents, including three of the top 10 in the most recent Division III poll, in winning the regional meet for the sixth straight year and the 26th time out of 36 championships all-time.

North Central placed all five of its scoring runners in the top 20 of the 275-man field and posted a winning total of 56 points. Second-ranked Washington University in St. Louis was a distant second with 101 points, followed by the 11th-ranked University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (118), the ninth-ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire (128) and the fourth-ranked University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (133).

Cardinal senior John Crain held true to his recent form, placing first overall for the fourth straight meet after touring the 8,000-meter (five-mile) course in 24 minutes, 17.2 seconds. He was 6.8 seconds faster than the runner-up, Wylie Mangelsdorf of Principia College. North Central's Roger Klein also cracked the top 10, placing seventh in 24:37.1.

Troy Kelleher followed in 14th place (24:48.0), while Ben Dickshinski and Tim Hird completed the team's scoring by placing 16th (24:51.6) and 18th (24:53.4), respectively. Ryan Root placed 26th (25:06.1) and Aron Sebhat finished 38th (25:25.4) for the Cardinals.

By virtue of their first-place finish, the Cardinals have automatically qualified for next Saturday's NCAA Division III National Championship in Hanover, Ind. The Cardinals have now qualified for all 41 Division III national-championship meets and will be chasing their 16th national title next week. 

The men's championship race is scheduled to begin at noon Eastern time next Saturday. More information can be found at Hanover's championship webpage, www.hanover.edu/athletics/crosscountry/championships.