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

Complete USTFCCCA Rankings

Mar. 2, 2011-- For the sixth consecutive week, the North Central College men's track & field squad is the nation's No. 1 team in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association National Team Computer Rankings, released Wednesday.

The computer rankings are new for the 2011 season. Mathematical formulae based on current national descending-order lists in all events are used to compile a team's ranking. The purpose of the rankings is to create an index that showcases the teams that have the best potential of achieving the top spots at the NCAA Division III National Championships.

The Cardinals amassed 179.12 points in the rankings sixth installment to remain the top team in NCAA Division III. The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (140.11 points), Amherst College (115.07 points) and the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (91.98 points) maintained their positions as the No. 2 through No. 4 teams in the rankings while Central College (Iowa) climbs one spot to fifth with 76.74 points.

Augustana College was the only other College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin institution to crack the top 25 rankings, climbing eight spots to 20th with 32.99 points.

North Central captured its 11th consecutive CCIW Indoor Championship on Feb. 26 at Illinois Wesleyan University's Shirk Center, outdistancing runner-up Augustana College by 90.5-points while claiming eight event winners. Daniel Benton was named the CCIW Track Athlete of the Meet after winning both the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes while Frank Gramarosso and his staff earned CCIW Coaching Staff of the Year accolades.

The Cardinals return to action on Friday, hosting the NCC Last Chance Qualifier Meet at the Al B. Carius Track with events slated to get underway at 4 p.m.