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

USTFCCCA Top 25 Rankings

May 10, 2016 - The North Central College women's track and field team has moved up two spots to a No. 12 national ranking among NCAA Division III programs this week, according to the most recent National Team Computer Rankings released Tuesday by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Cardinals accumulated 62.53 points in this week's rankings after winning five events and placing second overall at last weekend's College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Outdoor Championships. 

Washington University in St. Louis sits at No. 1 for the third straight week with 146.68 points, while last season's outdoor national champion, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, is second with 137.90. Rounding out the top five are Claremont McKenna-Harvey Mudd-Scripps Colleges (California), Nebraska Wesleyan University and Illinois Wesleyan University.

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.

The Cardinals' Madison Renfro is the Division III national leader in the 100-meter hurdles (13.91 seconds) and also ranks seventh in the 400-meter hurdles (1:01.70), while Megan Costanzo sits fourth on the national list in the 10,000-meter run (35:25.78) and Kayla Etherton is ranked ninth in the hammer throw (177 feet, seven inches).

The Cardinals host the Dr. Keeler Invitational on Thursday and Friday at Jay and Dot Buikema Track.