illinois wesleyan women, north central men earn 2009 cciw track & field outdoor championship titles

KENOSHA, Wis. -- The North Central men's track and field team regained its College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) championship status while the Illinois Wesleyan women won its first outdoor conference title in school history on Saturday.

After not winning the 2008 championship after 23-straight wins at the conference event, the Cardinal men took home the title in 2009 with a score of 278.5 to out-distance second place finisher, and defending conference champion, Augustana who finished with a score of 246. The win was the 31st CCIW outdoor title in school history for North Central.

Host Carthage placed third on the men's side (140.5) followed by Wheaton (44), Illinois Wesleyan (35), Elmhurst (34), Millikin (21) and North Park (18).

Defending national champion Illinois Wesleyan had never won the women's title until today as the Titans finished with a score of 227. North Central was second (149) while Wheaton was third (135) and defending conference champion Augustana was fourth (121). Host Carthage placed fifth (117) followed by Millikin (33), Elmhurst (19) and North Park (16).

Individual awards included Elmhurst's Brian McConnell (Delavan, Ill./H.S.) winning the Men's Track Athlete of the Meet award while Augustana's Darin Decker (Moline, Ill./H.S.) earned Men's Field Athlete of the Meet honors. Illinois Wesleyan's Amanda LaRocca (Palatine, Ill./H.S.) was named the Women's Track Athlete of the Meet while Augustana's Marissa Banks (Ames, Iowa/H.S.) was named the Women's Field Athlete of the Meet.

Illinois Wesleyan earned Coaching Staff of the Year honors on the women's side while North Central took home the honors on the men's side.

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