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

Complete USTFCCCA Top 25 Rankings

Apr. 27, 2011-- The North Central College women's track & field team is ranked 17th in the fourth installment of the National Team Computer Rankings for the outdoor season, released Wednesday by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

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 secured 60.86 points in the week four poll, good for No. 17. College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin rival Illinois Wesleyan University jumps into the Top 25 this week, climbing up to No. 13 with 66.81 points.

The top four remained unchanged for the third consecutive week with Wartburg College (Iowa) maintaining the top spot with 237.42 points followed by 2011 Indoor National Champion University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh (204.55). Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges (Calif.) is third with 116.67 points while Methodist University (N.C.) is fourth, accumulating 111.54 points.

North Central recorded five event winners and tallied two provisional qualifiers at Saturday's Huskie Open host by Northern Illinois University. Melissa Savino provisionally qualified in the high jump, clearing five feet, five inches, while Lauren Brightmore hit the national standard in the 400-meter dash, crossing the finish in 57.19 seconds.

The Cardinals return to the track on Friday, making the short trip to Lisle, Ill. for the Benedictine University Invitational.