Paced by four individual All-Americans, North Central ran to an unprecedented seventh national title in the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships in Holland, Mich., Nov. 21

Seniors Brad Todden of East Peoria, Ill. (24:39.3), and Jay Jackson of McHenry, Ill. (24:41.2), finished fifth and sixth, respectively, to lead the Cardinals over the snow-covered, 8,000-meter course at Holland Country Club. Junior All-American Joel Bowman of Lynn Center, Ill. (25:04.5), improved two places over 1986 to finish 20th, and junior John Collet of Highland, Ind. (25:10.9) added All-America honors with a 25th-place finish.

Freshman Bob Cisler of Darien, Ill. (25:13.7), just missed All America honors, finishing 26th. Junior Doug Hearn of Ottawa, Ill. (25:42.4), and junior Rich Scopp of Milwaukee, Wis. (25:56.2), completed North Central's seven-man squad in the national meet. Junior Tom Garvey of Chicago, Ill., traveled with the squad as the No. 8 runner.

Coach Al Carius' squad tallied 67 points in winning its first national titles since 1982, when the Cardinals set the national record with 51 points. University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse finished runner-up with 78 points and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh was a distant third with 187 points.

The national title capped a remarkable season which saw North Central record the first perfect score ever in winning its 14th consecutive College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin championship. And the Cardinals kept their amazing streak alive in NCAA Division III Midwest Regional competition. Since the NCAA introduced regional qualifications in Division III in 1978, only one team has claimed a Midwest Regional title--- North Central College.

- excerpt from North Central NOW
information provided by the College Archives