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Track & Field and Cross Country Program Ranked Among Nation's Best
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NEW ORLEANS – Virginia’s women’s track and field and cross country program finished tied with Colorado for 10th place in the final standings of the third annual NCAA Division I Terry Crawford Program of the Year Award, as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).
Virginia’s women were one of 18 programs in the nation to score at all three championships this year. The Cavaliers were also one of eight programs to finish in the top-30 at all three meets. Virginia claimed 21st at the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, finished 30th at the indoor meet – the program’s best since 1994 – and 25th at the outdoor championship, a program best since 1988.
The Cavalier women concluded the year with five individual All-Americans, one relay team that earned All-America honors and eight school records. Virginia won the ACC title in the distance medley relay and saw Stephanie Garcia claim her second steeplechase crown. Garcia also became UVa’s highest-ever finisher on the track at the NCAA Championships, earning runner-up honors in the steeplechase.
Oregon was the recipient of the award for the third-straight year, as the Ducks won the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championship, finished runner-up outdoors and took 12th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships for 15 points. Arizona finished second overall with 23.5 points, while Villanova was third with 24.5 points. The Cavaliers finished 10th overall with 83.5 points. This marks the first time since the inception of the award that the Cavaliers have been honored.
To be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for the NCAA Championships throughout all three seasons – cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field. Scoring is based on the team’s finish at each NCAA Division I Championship (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.
The Terry Crawford Women’s Program of the Year Award is named after USTFCCCA Hall of Famer and former Cal Poly head coach Terry Crawford. Crawford won five NCAA Championships and over 20 conference championships. Her 1986 Texas squad remains the only NCAA women’s program to ever win the Triple Crown (cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field titles).