FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

Regional Rankings

Oct. 12, 2010-- The North Central College women's cross country team remains the Midwest Region's seventh ranked squad for the third consecutive week as the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its sixth installment of the regional rankings on Tuesday.

The Midwest Region's top 10 remained unchanged from a week ago with the Cardinals maintaining the seventh spot for the third straight week. Washington University in Saint Louis continues its hold on the top position followed by the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in second and the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in third. The University of Chicago and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point round out the Midwest's top five.

College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin rivals Wheaton College and Illinois Wesleyan University continue to occupy the ninth and 10th ranked positions in the region, respectively.

The Cardinals placed third at the 23-team Dan Huston Pre-National Invitational held at Wartburg College's Max Cross Country Course on Saturday. North Central amassed 121 points finishing only behind the host Knights (65 points), ranked No. 1 in the Central Region and the Central Region's second ranked team, Saint Olaf University (Minn.).

Amanda Laesch finished third overall at the meet, clocking a 22:23 for the 6,000-meter course while Lauren Hooks was 13th in 23:22. For her efforts, Laesch was honored as the CCIW Runner of the Week on Tuesday, marking the fourth time this season the senior has claimed the award.

North Central will compete as a split squad this weekend, sending the top squad to the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh Invitational on Oct. 16 with the rest of the team competing at the Skyhawk Invitational in Dixon, Ill.