Augustana men, women crowned champions at 2008 cciw outdoor track & field championships

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The Augustana men's track and field team ended a 23-year run at the College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin Outdoor Track & Field Championships Saturday at North Park.

The Vikings took home the team title, their first since 1984, winning with a score of 240.5, finishing ahead of second place North Central who tallied a score of 216. Coming into this weekend, North Central had won every conference championship on the men's side dating back to 1985. The Augustana women's team also won the championship on Saturday, finishing with a team score of 171. Wheaton placed second with a score of 168.

The rest of the women's teams scores included: Illinois Wesleyan (165), North Central (137.5), Carthage (129.5), Millikin (22), Elmhurst (13) and North Park (9). The rest of the men's teams scores included: Carthage (123.5), Illinois Wesleyan (89), Wheaton (76), Millikin (30), North Park (24) and Elmhurst (18).

Augustana's men's title was the 15th in school history while the women's title was the 12th, and the first since 2001.

Illinois Wesleyan's Rachel Anderson (Clinton, Ill./H.S.) was named the Female Track Athlete of the Meet while Wheaton's Brandy McNeil (Villa Park, Ill./Timothy Christian) was the Female Field Athlete of the Meet. On the men's side, Illinois Wesleyan's Matt Harden (O'Fallon, Ill./H.S.) was named the Track Athlete of the Meet while North Central's Marc Holt (Tinley Park, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) was the Field Athlete of the Meet.

Augustana earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors on both the men's and women's side.

Full results of the CCIW Outdoor Track & Field Championships can be found by clicking here.