STANFORD, Calif. – After two of three seasons in the academic year, Stanford has the top combined men's cross country and track and field program in the country.
The USTFCCCA Program of the Year 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.
Stanford leads the race for the John McDonnell Program of the Year Award after finishing fifth in cross country and in a fourth-place tie this past weekend at the indoor meet. That gives Chris Miltenberg's program 9.5 points according to the formula.
The Cardinal made the most of their four entries in Birmingham, Alabama. Harrison Williams captured the heptathlon crown, while Grant Fisher and Alex Ostberg finished second and fifth in the 3000 for 12 more points. Fisher and Ostberg then joined forces with Isaiah Brandt-Sims and Isaac Cortes to place second in the distance medley relay.
The Stanford women, last year's Terry Crawford Program of the Year winner, is fourth.
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 winner. Ties among schools split points for positions taken.
The outdoor track and field season begins Friday for Stanford, at the Hornet Invitational at Sacramento State. The NCAA Championships are June 5-8 in Austin, Texas.
