NAPERVILLE – North Central, the defending College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track & Field champions, is the favorite to repeat when the 2023 CCIW Championship gets underway Friday morning at Dennis Punches Track and Field Complex in Waukesha, Wis.
 
The event is scheduled to begin Friday at 10 a.m. with heptathlon events. Field events also begin Friday morning at 10 a.m. with qualifying rounds in track events beginning at 1:30 p.m Friday.
 
On the men’s side, the Cardinals received eight first-place votes in a pre-championship coaches’ poll conducted earlier this week. The Cardinals won their 41st outdoor league championship last May with 157 team points.
 
The Millikin men are picked second – with a first-place vote – after a fifth-place showing last season. Carthage is third in the coaches’ poll, followed by Illinois Wesleyan and host Carroll.
 
Men’s Pre-Championship Coaches’ Poll
1. North Central, 64 points, eight first-place votes
2. Millikin, 55 points, one first-place vote
3. Carthage, 46 points
4. Illinois Wesleyan, 40 points
5. Carroll, 34 points
6. Augustana, 32 points
7. Wheaton, 30 points
8. North Park, 12 points
9. Elmhurst, 11 points
 
The North Central women are also pre-championship favorites, securing seven first-place votes in the coaches’ poll. NCC won its 12th CCIW title last spring – and its fourth in a row since 2018 – with 182.5 team points. The Cardinals won five individual events and a relay at least season’s championship.
 
2022 runner-up Elmhurst is picked second in 2023 and received the other two first-place votes. Carthage is third, Wheaton is fourth, while Illinois Wesleyan and Millikin tied for fifth.
 
Women’s Pre-Championship Coaches’ Poll
1. North Central, 63 points, seven first-place votes
2. Elmhurst, 55 points, two-first place votes
3. Carthage, 49 points
4. Wheaton, 37 points
T5. Illinois Wesleyan, 34 points
T5. Millikin, 34 points
7. Carroll, 26 points
8. Augustana, 18 points
9. North Park, 8 points