NEW ORLEANS, LA. – The University of Mount Olive Men's Cross Country/Track and Field programs finished 10th in the Program of the Year awards that were handed out by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) following the conclusion of the 2019 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field season.
The USTFCCCA Program of the Year Award is awarded annually to the most outstanding cross country/track & field programs in each of the NCAA's three divisions and for each gender in those levels. The 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.
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 recipient. Ties among schools split points for positions taken.
Mount Olive grabbed 13 points in cross country for finishing 13th at the NCAA DII National Championship while taking 35 points in indoor track and field after finishing 33rd, and 25 points in outdoor track and field after taking 24th. UMO combined for 73 points just two behind ninth place American International and was one of only two Southeast Regional schools in the final rankings.
The Trojans sent 20 student-athletes to three NCAA Championships and brought home 12 NCAA First-Team All-Americans the highest in program history.