View the 2012 Standings

The UMass Lowell men's cross country and track and field team, fresh off three stellar seasons 2011-12, finished the year ranked No. 7 in the 2012 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division II Program of the Year standings, released Thursday.

The NCAA Division II Program of the Year standings honor the institutions that have 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 Division II 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 Division II Championship in cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award recipient. Ties among schools split points for positions taken.

UMass Lowell placed seventh by way of 58 points, the result of finishing 20^th at the NCAA Cross Country Championship; ninth at the NCAA indoor championship and tied for 28^th last week at the NCAA outdoor championship. Only eight programs in the country were cited.

Adams (Colo.) State, the NCAA outdoor champion, earned Program of the Year honors for the fourth straight year with five points, the result of runner-up efforts at the NCAA Cross Country Championship and the NCAA indoor championship and the outdoor title.

Western (Colo.) State was the runner-up with 21.5 points and was followed by Ashland (Ohio) with 27.5 points, Colorado School of Mines (38) and Augustana (S.D.) (49). Grand Valley State (55), UMass Lowell (58) and Shippensburg (63) capped the standings.

“This is something we're very proud of,” said head coach Gary Gardner. “I think the fact that we are able to put forth quality student-athletes, from distance runners to jumpers to throwers, in each event reflects upon the staff we have and the effort they give.”

UMass Lowell won its fourth straight NCAA East Region Cross Country Championship in November behind five runners among the top 21 places, and qualified for the NCAAs for the 12^th straight year.

The River Hawks enjoyed their best-ever result at the NCAA indoor championship in Mankato, Minn., at which they crowned two relay teams and two individuals as All-Americans.

At the NCAA outdoor championship last week in Pueblo, Colo., UMass Lowell placed tied for 28^th behind one individual and one relay team which captured All-America.