New Orleans, La. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse has captured the 2024-25 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Men's National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Al Carius Program of the Year standings, the organization announced Tuesday.
It marks the sixth time UW-La Crosse has earned the recognition, including second straight. The Eagles also captured the award in 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15 and 2016-17. UW-La Crosse has finished second on four occasions (2008-09, 2009-10, 2015-16, 2022-23). UW-La Crosse has also finished third twice (2011-12, 2017-18), fourth (2018-19) and eighth (2021-22).
The USTFCCCA Program of the Year Award is bestowed annually to the most outstanding cross country/track & field programs in each of the NCAA's three divisions and for each gender. The award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field seasons) based on the institution's finish at the NCAA Championships.
In order to be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for each of the NCAA Championships. Scoring is based on the team's finish at each NCAA Championship in cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field (i.e. 1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points ... 31st = 31 points) with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award recipient. Ties among schools split points for positions taken.
UW-La Crosse finished with 3.0 points this year after sweeping the NCAA Division III Cross Country and Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Lynchburg University (Va.) placed second in this year's standings with 23.0 points while UW-Eau Claire was third with 36.0 and Massachusetts Instititue of Technology fourth with 37.0.
This year marks the fourth time (1996-97, 2001-02, 2005-06, 2024-25) in school history UW-La Crosse has swept the NCAA Division III men's cross country, men's indoor track & field and men's outdoor track & field championships.
UW-La Crosse's six USTFCCCA Program of the Year Awards are the most in NCAA Division III history. North Central College (Ill.) has won five titles (2009-10, 2010-11, 2011-12, 2017-18, 2018-19). UW-Oshkosh won the first USTFCCCA Program of the Year Award in 2008-09. UW-Eau Claire (2015-16) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2022-23) have also captured the award.
The Al Carius Program of the Year Award is named after USTFCCCA Hall of Famer and long-time North Central College (Ill.) head coach Al Carius.
