FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5324

Team Scores
Individual Results

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. (Feb. 26, 2011)-- Grabbing an early lead after day one and never relenting, the North Central College women's track & field secured its first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Indoor Championship since 2007 on Saturday at Illinois Wesleyan University's Shirk Center.

The sixth-ranked Cardinals won eight events and racked up 252 points almost doubling-up the runner-up and host Titans' 135 points. Carthage College was third with 123 points followed by Augustana College (50) and Millikin University (50). Wheaton College was sixth (44) followed by Elmhurst College (7) and North Park University (1). The North Central coaching staff was additionally honored as the CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year.

Amanda Laesch made the most of her opportunities, sweeping all three distance events en route to earning CCIW Runner of the Meet honors. The senior crushed the conference and school record in the 5,000-meter run on Friday, clocking a provisional qualifying time of 17:16.02 before claiming the mile on Saturday in 5:08.54. The senior closed out the day by successfully defending her title in the 3,000-meter run, crossing the tape in 10:21.05.

In the pole vault, Carolyn Kalafut captured the second indoor title of her career, clearing 11 feet 3 3/4 inches. Kalafut was the 2008 champion in the event as Cardinal vaulters have won eight straight pole vault titles at the CCIW Championships.

Michelle Criscione collected her fourth-straight title in the high jump, besting teammate Melissa Savino on a tie breaker after recording no misses as both athletes cleared 5' 3 3/4 inches. Savino additionally tallied a pair of provisional qualifying efforts, winning the 55-meter hurdles in 8.50 while placing third in the pentathlon with 3,086 points. Jocelyn Redlinski was fourth in a stacked pentathlon field, finishing with a provisional qualifying total of 3,081 points while also placing third in the long jump (17' 0 3/4").

In the sprints, Sheila Walsh sprinted to the victory in the 400-meter dash, re-breaking her own school record with an automatic qualifying time of 56.64 while Lauren Brightmore was third in a provisional qualifying time of 57.58. Kayla Murphy was second in the 55-meter dash in a provisional time of 7.30 while placing third in the 200-meter dash (25.62).

Krista Cota prevailed in the 800-meter run, winning the four-lap race in a provisional qualifying time of 2:14.59. The Cardinals received second place finishes from the distance medley relay team (12:22.97), Kala Bingham in the mile (5:11.58) and Lauren Hooks in the 5,000-meters (18:16.23) while receiving third place showings from Molly Gstalter in the 55-meter hurdles (8.80), Hooks in the 3,000-meters (10:40.38) and Brianna Tolliver in the triple jump (35' 8 1/2").

North Central returns to the track on Friday, March 5, hosting the Cardinal Last Chance Qualifier at the Al B. Carius Track.