New Orleans, La. - The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse finished fourth in the 2024-25 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Women's National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Deb Vercauteren Program of the Year Award standings, the organization announced Tuesday.  

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 19.0 points in this year's standings. The Eagles placed third at the NCAA Division III Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field Championships and 13th at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships.   

Massachusetts Institute of Technology captured the 2024-25 USTFCCCA Women's Program of the Year Award with 3.0 points, sweeping the cross country, indoor and outdoor track & field championships. Washington University in St. Louis (Mo.) and the University of Chicago (Ill.) finished tied for second with 14.0 points. 

UW-La Crosse has finished a school-best second on three (2008-09, 2014-15, 2015-16) occasions in the USTFCCCA Program of the Year standings.  The Eagles were third in 2013-14 and 2021-22. Along with this year's fourth-place finish, UW-La Crosse was fourth in 2012-13, 2022-23 and 2023-24.  UW-La Crosse was eighth in 2009-10, 10th in 2018-19, 11th in 2016-17 and 13th in 2017-18.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology has won three (2010-11, 2014-15, 2024-25) USTFCCCA Program of the Year Awards. Washington-St. Louis (Mo.) has won six (2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19, 2022-23, 2023-24) awards while Wartburg College (Iowa) has won four (2008-09, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14) and UW-Oshkosh one (2009-10). The award was established in 2008-09.

The USTFCCCA NCAA Division III Deb Vercauteren Program of the Year Award is named after USTFCCCA Hall of Famer and former UW-Oshkosh women's head cross country and track & field coach Deb Vercauteren.