Wednesday, May 31, 2017

NEW ORLEANS – Two of the most successful cross country and track and field programs in the GNAC this season also rank among the top programs in all of Division II according to the Division II Program of the Year standings released on May 30 by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Alaska Anchorage men’s cross country and track and field program finished fifth in the organization’s Damon Martin Program of the Year standings. Simon Fraser’s women’s cross country and track and field programs finished 10th in the rankings for the Jerry Baltes Program of the Year. The Seawolves finished 11th.

The USTFCCCA Programs of the Year are awarded to the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field seasons) based on the institution’s finish at the NCAA Championships. Scoring is based on the team’s finish at each NCAA championship. In order to be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for each of the NCAA Championships.

The Alaska Anchorage men finished with a total of 47.5 points after another banner year. The Seawolves finished fifth at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, placed 28th at the NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships 13th at the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The Seawolves are on a dominant roll in the GNAC, having won all three conference titles in each of the last two years, and finished third in the Program of the Year standings last season.

Simon Fraser’s women finished with 89.5 points, buoyed by the Clan’s sixth place finish in the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships. Simon Fraser placed 24th in the indoor track championships and 56th in the outdoor championships.

The Alaska Anchorage women, meanwhile, scored 93.5 points. The Seawolves placed eighth at the cross country championships, 21st at the indoor meet and 62nd at the outdoor championships. In conference competition, the Seawolves won both the GNAC women’s cross country and outdoor track and field programs.

A pair of powerhouses were Division II Program of the Year winners. Adams State won the Damon Martin Men’s Program of the Year award with 21 points, topped by a national championship in cross country. The Grizzlies have won the award in all nine years it has been presented. Grand Valley State scored just five points to win the Jerry Baltes Women’s Program of the Year Award for the seventh time in the last nine years. The Lakers won the cross country national title and placed second at both the indoor and outdoor track and field meets.