NEW ORLEANS, La. -- Montana Tech's women's cross country and track & field program checked in 13th on the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association's NAIA Fred Beile Program of the Year mid-year standings, the USTFCCCA announced Tuesday.
The Orediggers were the highest-ranked Frontier Conference program on the list.
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, the NAIA and the NJCAA 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 their respective national championships.
Teams must qualify for the national championships in all three seasons.
Based on the team's finish at each championship (1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points, etc.) with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award recipient. Ties among schools split points for positions taken.
The Fred Beile NAIA Women's Program of the Year Award is named after former Doane head coach Fred Beile. He guided the Doane women's program to a pair of team titles at the NAIA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, more than 250 All-America honors and numerous conference championships.
The Orediggers collected 53 points between cross country and indoor track & field seasons.
Led by top-100 finishes from seniors
Kamryn Comba and
Alyssa Jany, the Oredigger women's cross country team raced to 23rd place at the NAIA championships in November.
Earlier this month, Montana Tech's women finished tied for 30th at the NAIA indoor track & field championship meet, bolstered by All-America finishes from
Abby Clark in the pentathlon and
Jadyn Vermillion in the long jump.
The USTFCCCA will announce the final results of the Fred Beile NAIA Women's Program of the Year Award at the conclusion of the outdoor track & field season later this spring.
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