XC | Track & Field

Huntington was named the 2021 USTFCCCA NAIA Women’s Program of the Year as announced by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) this past summer. This distinguished honor is a first in Forester history.

Three members of the Huntington coaching staff, Johnson, Childs and Cassie Smith, and graduate student Hannah Wappes will be formally presented with the award on December 15 at the USTFCCCA National Convention in Orlando, Fla.

The USTFCCCA Program of the Year award is awarded annually to the most outstanding cross country/track and field programs in each of the NCAA’s three divisions, the NAIA and for each gender in those levels. The award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year.

“Being awarded program of the year is a huge honor,” said Coach Lauren Davenport Johnson. “It shows that the athletes and coaches are consistently dedicated through the entire academic year.

“2021 was exceptionally difficult with all the national championships falling within a three-month period with indoor nationals in March, cross country in April and outdoor nationals in May. To compete at such a high level that many times in that short a period, says a lot about the level of student-athlete we as coaches have the privilege of working with.”

To be considered for this award, teams must qualify for each of the NAIA Championships. Scoring is based on a team’s finish at each NAIA Championship in cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field (i.e. 1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points …15th = 15 points) with the lowest point total for all three championships determining the winner.

“This award is a perfect reflection of the hard work that that not only our student-athletes put in, but also our coaching staff,” said Coach Joel Childs.

The Foresters earned the women’s crown with 25.5 points, edging out second-place Dordt by 3.5 points by virtue of a better finish at the outdoor meet. HU finished 8th at indoor, added a 12th-place effort in cross country and tied for 5th at outdoor.

Dordt finished with 29 points. IWU and Milligan tied for third with 30 points apiece while Southeastern rounded out the top five with 36.5 points.