Arkansas Moves Into Program Of The Year Top-Five

March 13, 2017

NEW ORLEANS – The Arkansas women’s track and field team moved up from No. 19 to No. 5 in the Terry Crawford Program of the Year Standings, following its fifth-place finish last weekend at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships.

The Program of the Year Award, named for Cal Poly legendary coach Terry Crawford, recognizes the women’s team that has the best combined results across the NCAA cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field seasons with points distributed based on team finish. To be considered for the award, a team must qualify for the NCAA Championships in all three seasons. Upon completion of the outdoor championship, points from each season are added with the award recipient being the team with the lowest combined total.

This past fall the Razorbacks began their trek towards the distinguished award with a top-20 finish at the 2016 NCAA Cross Country Championships led by All-American freshman Taylor Werner. Arkansas carried that momentum into the indoor season, capitalizing on the efforts of several returning track and field All-American to post a top-five finish at nationals.

Program of the Year Top Five (Updated Standings)
1. Oregon – 2
2. Colorado – 10
3. Stanford – 15.5
4. Michigan – 17.5
5. Arkansas – 24

With its second NCAA championships of the 2016-17 academic year completed Arkansas added to its ever-growing list of All-Americans as eight Razorbacks, including Taliyah Brooks, Leigha Brown, Desiree Freier, Therese Haiss, Daina Harper, Nikki Hiltz, Lexi Weeks and Tori Weeks earned first team All-America recognition.

2017 Indoor First Team All-Americans
Taliyah Brooks (pentathlon)
Leigha Brown (pentathlon)
Desiree Freier (pole vault)
Therese Haiss (mile)
Daina Harper (400)
Nikki Hiltz (mile)
Lexi Weeks (pole vault)
Tori Weeks (pole vault)

2017 Indoor Second Team All-Americans
Taliyah Brooks (long jump)
Daina Harper (4-x-400)
Kelsey Herman (pentathlon)
Sunkietra McCallister (4-x-400)
Brianna Swinton (DMR, 4-x-400)
Regan Ward (DMR)
Ceara Watson (DMR, 4-x-400)
Taylor Werner (3,000, DMR)

With the indoor season in the books Arkansas will turn its attention to its outdoor campaign, opening up at the Arkansas Spring Invitational on March 24-25.

For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.