Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
(written by Emily Zadny, Student Sports Information Assistant)

Midwest Region Championship Website

Nov. 12, 2015 - Coming off of its 42nd striaght College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) title two weeks ago, the North Central College men's cross country team is gearing up for the NCAA Division III Midwest Region Championship this weekend in Rock Island, Illinois.
 
The Cardinals have clinched the top spot at the regional championships the last seven years, the longest current such winning streak in the nation, and are looking for their 28th regional title overall.
 
North Central enters the meet ranked third nationally behind the No.1 ranked University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, which ascended to the No. 1 spot back in October. The Cardinals will face seven nationally-ranked opponents, including the No.13 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, the No. 15 University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, No. 16 Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.), No. 23 Augustana College and the No. 29 University of Chicago.
 
The Cardinals, though a young squad, will look towards upperclassmen leadership for the regional race. Senior Aron Sebhat and junior Zach Plank are the only two returners from last year's regional race, placing fourth and 14th, respectively. Plank won the individual championship at the CCIW meet on Oct. 31 aas the Cardinals placed 10 runners among the top 17 overall finishers.

CCIW Freshman of the Year Al Baldonado will have his first regional experience this weekend with fellow first-year teammates Dhruvil Patel and Zach Hird. Senior Ken Hoffman and junior Ethan Adlfinger, both alternates for last year's race, will compete as well, coming off of third- and 10th-place finishes at the conference championships.
 
The year's race will be contested will be contested on Saturday at Saukie Golf Course in Rock Island, Illinois. The men's 8,000-meter (five-mile) race will begin at noon.