Ten North Central athletes make All-America
The local schools were well-represented in both the men's and women's Division III Track and Field National Championships. Wheaton, Elmhurst and North Central all went home with newly named All-Americans.
North Central displayed a dominating performance as the men's and women's teams combined for 10 All-America performances, one national champion and a third-place team performance by the men's team. Senior John Crain finished his career with a second-place finish in the 5,000-meter and a national championship in the 10,000-meter. Crain was named an All-American in both events, an honor given to the top eight finishers in every event, and he now has four national championships in his career.
In addition to Crain, North Central's men's team had All-America honors given to three other individual athletes and the 1,600-meter relay team. Both Troy Kelleher and Roger Klein finished in the top five behind Crain in the 10,000-meter and Adam Weidner finished sixth in the shot put.
A pair of North Central women finished in the top-eight in the 1,500-meter run, with Nora Ferguson finishing fifth and Madison Renfro in seventh. Brook Patterson was named an All-America in pole vault and Ebony Stallworth broke the school record in shot put with her All-America performance.
Elmhurst had a pair of awards as well, both coming from Alyssa Poremba. The senior set a school record with her sixth-place performance in the 5,000-meter and third in the 10,000-meter. These were Poremba's first All-America honors of her career.
Wheaton's James Waterman (Wheaton North) finished his career as an All-American, receiving the honor for the third time while on the Thunder team. Waterman finished sixth in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Benedictine:
The Eagles women's soccer team is searching for a new coach after Jason Burr stepped down.
Burr held the position for two seasons, compiling an 11-22-4 record. He is moving on from Benedictine to be the coach at Division I Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne.
The search for his replacement began immediately. Whoever fills the position will join a team that returns eight regular starters from last year's team.