Contact: Clark Teuscher, Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302

2017-2018 Division III Program of the Year Award Standings

May 30, 2018 - North Central College's combined success in men's cross country and track and field during the 2017-2018 academic year has been rewarded by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), which has bestowed the Al Carius Program of the Year Award on the Cardinals, bringing the award to Naperville for the fourth time in the 10-year history of the award and the first time since 2011-2012.

The award, named after longtime North Central cross country and track and field coach Al Carius (H) '16, goes to the program which achieves the highest average finish at the NCAA Division III National Championships in cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field. The Cardinals have finished first or second in the standings seven of the 10 years since the award's inception in 2008.

North Central won its 18th Division III national title in cross country last November, a national record across all three of the NCAA's divisions, and has finished first at the championship six of the past nine years. The Cardinals also placed second at the Division III Indoor Championships in March, then closed the year with a second-place showing at the Division III Outdoor Championships last weekend, North Central's highest finish at an outdoor national meet since 2011, to finish with a total of five points in the Program of the Year standings.

Rowan University (New Jersey) was a distant second with 29 points, followed by the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (35.5), Loras College (37) and the University of Wisconsin-Stout (43).

North Central also won the Al Carius Award following the 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 academic years.