Roundup: North Central men win CCIW track title
May 7, 2011 10:18PM
Updated: October 29, 2011 12:33AM
The North Central College men’s track and field team traveled to Augustana College for the 2011 College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Outdoor Championships on Friday with the memory of the previous season’s two-point loss to the Vikings fresh in their minds.
At the end of the day Saturday, the Cardinals had done more than enough to exact their revenge, as North Central won five events, set two meet records and defeated this year’s hosts by 41 points to bring home the CCIW outdoor title for the 31st time.
Second-ranked North Central totaled 284 points to No. 18-ranked Augustana’s 243. Carthage College was a distant third with 101.
The first of North Central’s two meet records came on Friday in the pole vault, as Josh Winder cleared 17 feet, 1-1/2 inches to surpass the record of 17 feet, 3/4 inch, which was set by his older brother, Jake, in 2008. On Saturday, Daniel Benton established a new North Central record in the 400-meter dash, decimating the field and cruising to victory in 47.06 seconds, automatically qualifying for nationals and crushing the previous meet record of 47.66, set by Illinois Wesleyan University’s Matt Harden in 2007.
North Central women’s track earns triple crown
Winning seven events and tallying six provisional qualifiers the North Central College women’s track and field team secured the first triple crown in College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin history, blowing away the competition at the Outdoor Championships at Augustana College’s Ericson Field.
The 19th-ranked Cardinals are the first women’s program to achieve the triple crown (titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field) in one academic year since the conference began sponsorship of all three sports in 2000-2001.
North Central amassed 223 points in the team total with Carthage College placing second with 126.5 points. Defending champion Illinois Wesleyan University was third with 120 points while Wheaton College was fourth (110). Host Augustana was fifth (104.5) followed by Millikin University (83), Elmhurst College (nine) and North Park University (four).
Boys track
44th Annual Carlin Nalley Invitational — Benet placed 10th at the 21-team invitational with 24 points. E.J. Howe won the triple jump event and took third in the long jump.
Pete Reiff Invitational — Metea Valley took second in the eight-team meet, held at Hoffman Estates High School. Ben Hulett won the 300 meter hurdles (41.6) and the Mustangs’ 400 relay team also took first (44.3). The host school won the meet with 148 points, followed by Metea (79), York (74) and Glenbard East (64).
