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

CCIW Press Release

Jan. 20, 2016 - North Central College pole vaulter Luke Winder has been selected as one of the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Men's Track and Field Athletes of the Week for Jan. 11-17.

Winder was picked as the CCIW's Field Event Athlete of the Week after opening the season with a first-place finish in the Grand Valley State University (Michigan) Bob Eubanks Open on Friday. His winning vault of 17 feet, 3/4 inch was nearly a foot better than his nearest competitor in a meet which featured nine NCAA Division I programs.

The defending NCAA Division III indoor and outdoor national pole vault champion, Winder owns the top Division III mark in the event thus far this season as well.

Currently ranked No. 3 nationally by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), North Central hosts the Cardinal Opener at Al B. Carius Track on Friday. Also in the seven-team field at the meet will be the No. 1-ranked University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, the No. 2-ranked University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, and the No. 11-ranked University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Field events are scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m., with running events set to start at 5:00.