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

CCIW Press Release

Jan. 24, 2017 - North Central College men's track and field athletes Nolan McKenna and Adam Poklop have been recognized as the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Athletes of the Week for Jan. 16-22. The CCIW announced this week's selections on Tuesday.

Both athletes were selected on the strength of their performances in the Cardinal Opener at Al B. Carius Track on Friday. The Cardinals won nine of 16 events in the meet and posted nine marks which currently rank among the nation's top 10 in their respective events at the NCAA Division III level.

McKenna was named the CCIW's Track Athlete of the Week for the second straight meet after winning the 5,000-meter run on Friday. His finishing time of 14 minutes, 35.35 seconds is currently the fastest in the nation by any Division III competitor. McKenna also ranks fifth nationwide in the 3,000-meter run (8:27.54).

Poklop was picked as the conference's Field Athlete of the Week after winning Friday's high jump competition with a clearance of six feet, 9 1/2 inches, which surpassed his previous indoor personal best by four inches and moved him into a tie for third in the event among Division III athletes. Poklop's honor is the second straight Field Athlete of the Week award for the Cardinals as well, as pole vaulter Luke Winder received the distinction following the team's season-opening meet at Grand Valley State University.

North Central returns to competition Saturday, Feb. 4, when it travels to Bourbonnais for the Olivet Nazarene University Invitational.