February 27, 2011

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- The Aurora women's track and field team captured the team's first Northern Athletics Conference indoor track and field title, while MSOE took home the men's title for the second time in 4 years this weekend at Carius Track in Naperville, Ill.

The Spartan women tallied 144 points, Concordia Wisconsin was second with 126 and Concordia Chicago was third with 111.5. Edgewood was fourth with 65, followed by Wisconsin Lutheran (61), MSOE (52), Benedictine (44.5), Rockford (15) and Lakeland (0).

Aurora won only two events (1,600-meter relay and long jump), but had 12 top-three finishes in the 16 events. The team's time of 4:15.11 in the 1,600-meter relay broke the previous mark -- set at the 2008 NAC Championships by Concordia Wisconsin -- by more than 8 seconds.

On the men's side, MSOE had a total of 143 points for the title -- its first since 2008. Aurora was second with 121, Concordia Wisconsin third (120) and Benedictine (102) fourth. Concordia Chicago took fifth (84), Edgewood (39) sixth, Wisconsin Lutheran (6) seventh, and Lakeland and Rockford field for eighth with 3 points.

The Raider men captured five titles at the championship, setting two NAC records in the process. Kevin Diedrich broke his own record in the 55-meter hurdles, clocked at 7.72, while the Raiders' 1,600-meter relay team broke CUW's 2-year conference record by nearly 3 seconds with a time of 3:24.51. MSOE also won the weight throw, pole vault and 55-meter dash.

Women's Standings
1. Aurora, 144
2. Concordia Wisconsin, 126
3. Concordia Chicago, 111.5
4. Edgewood, 65
5. Wisconsin Lutheran, 61
6. MSOE, 52
7. Benedictine, 44.5
8. Rockford, 15
9. Lakeland, 0

Men's Standings
1. MSOE, 143
2. Aurora, 121
3. Concordia Wisconsin, 120
4. Benedictine, 102
5. Concordia Chicago, 84
6. Edgewood, 39
7. Wisconsin Lutheran, 6
8. Lakeland, 3
Rockford, 3