NORTH CENTRAL MAKES IT 31 STRAIGHT CHAMPIONSHIPS

The North Central Cardinals had an easy time of it en route to winning the 2004 College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin men's cross country championship. Veteran head coach Al Carius watched as his team secured the top five places en route to a perfect score of 15, far ahead of the second place duo of Augustana and Elmhurst, both of which scored 76 points. It was the 31 st consecutive championship for the Cardinals, dating back to 1974.

Pat Rizzo won the individual title with a time of 25:44 over the windswept 8,000 meter course at DuPage River Park in Wheaton. He defeated teammate Nick Hird by 13 seconds. Teammates Chris Bosworth, Andy Enright and David Johnson completed the sweep by taking third, fourth and fifth respectively. The first non-North Central finisher was Mark Heintz of Elmhurst, who placed sixth in 26:14. Mike Glosson, also of Elmhurst, was seventh in 26:21. Hamilton Beal of Carthage, the 2002 individual champion, placed eighth in 26:25 and his teammate Tad Hulst was ninth in 26:26. Augustana's Adam Houghton rounded out the top 10 with a 10 th place finish in 26:30.

Rizzo becomes the 24 th North Central runner to win an individual CCIW title since Doug Nuckols became the first Cardinal to do so back in 1962.

Behind North Central, Augustana and Elmhurst in the team race; Carthage was a solid fourth with 86 points. Wheaton (127), Millikin (158), Illinois Wesleyan (191) and North Park (260) finished out the field.