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

CCIW Press Release

Jan. 17, 2017 - North Central College men's track and field athletes Nolan McKenna and Luke Winder have been recognized as the season's first College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Athletes of the Week. The CCIW announced this week's selections on Tuesday.

The pair were honored for their contributions to the Cardinals' second-place finish in the 11-team Grand Valley State University Bob Eubanks Open on Friday. Ranked 10th among NCAA Division III teams entering the meet, North Central totaled 143 points to finish only behind Grand Valley State, the No. 4-ranked team among NCAA Division II institutions, which scored 160.

McKenna was named the CCIW's Track Athlete of the Week after winning the 3,000-meter run on Friday, leading a North Central sweep of the top three places in the event. His time of eight minutes, 27.54 seconds currently ranks him second nationally among Division III competitors. 

Winder, meanwhile, was named the conference's Field Athlete of the Week after he won the pole vault competition by clearing a height of 17 feet, 4 1/2 inches (5.30 meters), winning the competition by nearly two feet. A two-time indoor and outdoor national champion, Winder is the Division III national leader in the event by almost one foot.

North Central hosts the Cardinal Opener on Friday at Al B. Carius Track. Competition is scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m.