USTFCCCA NCAA DII Program of the Year Standings – 2022 Mid-Year Update

NEW ORLEANS – Two down. One to go.

With two of the three NCAA Championships in the books – cross country and indoor track & field – it’s time to look at the standings for the Damon Martin Men’s Program of the Year Award and the Jerry Baltes Women’s Program of the Year Award.

The USTFCCCA Program of the Year 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 winner. Ties among schools split points for positions taken.

Men’s Story

With just two POY points, Grand Valley State is well on its way to being named the Damon Martin Program of the Year. The Lakers topped the podium at the cross country championships in November before capturing the program’s first indoor national title in Pittsburg, Kansas. This could be the third-straight honor for Grand Valley State after taking home the award in 2018 and 2019, which was the last time the honor was awarded.

Adams State is second with 11 POY points. The Grizzlies finished second in cross country and earned a top-10 finish indoors after placing ninth. Adams State won nine straight Program of the Year awards from 2009 until their last title in 2017.

Pittsburg State is currently in third by half a point over fourth-place Colorado School of Mines. The Gorillas have 18 POY points compared to the 18.5 POY points the Orediggers have tallied this year. American International is right behind in fifth with 19 POY points. These three teams have one top-10 finish on record this year: the Gorillas placed third indoors; the Orediggers came in third during the cross country season; the Yellow Jackets finished eighth indoors.

Women’s Story

The battle for the Jerry Baltes Program of the Year Award looks to be a two-team race.

Grand Valley State and Adams State are separated by two and a half points heading into the outdoor season. The Lakers are in the lead with four POY points thanks to a pair of runner-up finishes in cross country and indoors. The Grizzlies won a national title in cross country and finished fifth indoors for six and a half POY points. Adams State won the last two Program of the Year awards in 2018 and 2019, while Grand Valley State was last honored in 2017.

Queens (N.C.) is in third-place with 16 points, just a half a point ahead of fourth-place West Texas A&M with 16.5 POY points. Saginaw Valley State, UC-Colorado Springs are tied for fifth with 22 POY points. Each of these teams have at least one top-10 finish: the Royals finished sixth in cross country and 10th indoors; the Lady Buffs reached the podium with a third-place finish indoors; the Cardinals placed seventh indoors; the Mountain Lions finished seventh in cross country.