The NCAA News - News and Features

December 1, 1997

North Central joins elite with 10th cross country victory

North Central entered the Division III Men's Cross Country Championships as one of division's most successful cross country teams.

The Cardinals ended the event as one of the most successful teams in any Division III sport.

Placing two runners among the top 15 individual finishers, North Central registered 94 points to edge Mount Union by two points and win a championships-record 10th team title November 22 at MIT.

The Cardinals' two-point victory was the narrowest margin in the event's 25-year history. The previous record margin was three points in 1977, when Occidental edged Humboldt State, 149-152.

Wisconsin-La Crosse, which won in 1996, placed third, followed by Brandeis and Wisconsin-Stevens Point, respectively.

Brett Altergott of Wisconsin-La Crosse claimed the individual championship, the school's first.

North Central, which has competed in all 25 Division III championships, became only the fifth Division III school to win 10 team titles in a sport. It joined Kenyon, whose men's and women's swimming teams have won 18 and 14 titles, respectively; Cal State Stanislaus' men's golf team, with 12 titles; and Hobart's men's lacrosse team, with 13 titles.

Claiming their first title since 1993, the Cardinals were led by Tony Rizzo and Ryan Board, who placed 10th and 13th overall, respectively.

Jeff Stiles, Weert Goldenstein and Jack Kafel joined Rizzo and Board in helping North Central to the team title. The trio finished among the top 40 individuals.

Eighth in 1996, Altergott cruised to the individual title with a time of 25 minutes, 6 seconds. The time was 14 seconds faster than runner-up Doug Brown of Mount Union.