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

Results

ROCK ISLAND, Ill. (Oct. 30, 2010) - After winning the 2009 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin championship by a single point, the North Central College women's cross country team made no contest of the 2010 meet, putting five finishers in the top 10 and winning its second straight conference title in dominating fashion at Saukie Golf Course on Saturday.

The Cardinals' total of 26 points was less than half the score of runner-up Illinois Wesleyan University (63). Wheaton College placed third (76), followed by Elmhurst College (99), Augustana College (114), and Carthage College (152). Millikin University and North Park University fielded incomplete teams.

North Central's Amanda Laesch took control of the individual competition shortly before the halfway point of the 6,000-meter (3.75-mile) course, pulling away to finish in 21 minutes, 47 seconds and winning by nearly a minute. Illinois Wesleyan's Liz Ave Maria was second in 22:44, followed by the Cardinals' Sarah Ahn (22:49) and Lauren Hooks (22:50) in third and fourth place, respectively.

Krista Cota used a strong finish in the home stretch to place eighth (23:09), and the Cardinals clinched the victory when Amanda Marek crossed the line in 10th place (23:10). North Central's Alicia Zimmerman placed 13th (23:19) and Kala Bingham finished 15th (23:27), giving the Cardinals seven All-CCIW honorees.

Laesch is now a four-time All-CCIW selection in cross country and is North Central's fifth individual conference champion. Ahn, Hooks and Zimmerman each earned their second All-Conference certificate. North Central has now won three of the past five CCIW Championship meets.

The Cardinals will travel back to Saukie Golf Course on Saturday, Nov. 13, for the NCAA Division III Midwest Regional Championships.