Men’s T&F/XC finishes 4th in Program of the Year scoring
Some of the Bates men's track and field team's great accomplishments this season, such as winning the NESCAC team championship (above), didn't even figure into the scoring for national Program of the Year, which Bates finished fourth in for the 2011-12 academic year. (File photo by Tom Leonard '78)
NEW ORLEANS — The Bates College men’s track and field and cross country teams finished fourth in the scoring for the the 2012 USTFCCCA Program of the Year award, given to the institution that had the best combined team finishes in each of the NCAA’s cross country/track & field sports in a given academic year, announced today by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.
Bates was one of only 13 programs that scored points in all three NCAA Championships in the 2011-12 academic year and was therefore eligible for Program of the Year. The Bobcat men’s cross country team finished seventh at the 2011 NCAA Championships; the men’s indoor track and field team tied for ninth place at the 2012 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, and then tied for 20th place at outdoor nationals last week.
Scoring is based on the team’s finish at each NCAA Division II 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.
The three placements add up to 40 points in Program of the Year scoring. North Central (Ill.) won its third straight Program of the Year award with seven points, followed by Wisconsin-Oshkosh with 12, Wisconsin-La Crosse with 21.5, Bates with 40 and Wabash with 43.5 to round out the top five.
Not coincidentally, the head coach of all three squads, Al Fereshetian, won Coach of the Year awards at the conclusion of all three athletic seasons this year, giving him four in a row overall.
2012 USTFCCCA Program of the Year Award release