NEW ORLEANS – Cal State L.A.’s women’s cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field programs combined to give the Golden Eagles a lofty placing in the inaugural Division II Women’s Program of the Year.
The United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced the programs in the nation and Cal State L.A. finished sixth. The Golden Eagles were seventh in the nation in outdoor track and field, 13th in the country in cross country and 26th in indoor track and field.
The NCAA Division II Program of the Year is awarded annually to the most outstanding NCAA Division II men’s and women’s cross country/track and field programs. The award honors the institutions that have achieved the most success in each academic year based on their finishes at the NCAA Division II Championships.
In order to be eligible, teams must qualify in all three NCAA Championships. Scoring is based on the team’s finish at each championship in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field. Cal State L.A. finished with 46 points after combining the finishes for cross country (13), indoor track and field (26) and outdoor track and field (7).
Grand Valley State was first with eight points (second in cross country, second in indoor track and field and fourth in outdoor track and field). Adams State was second with 21 points and Seattle Pacific was third with 22.5 points.
Vivien Wadeck was eighth in the country in cross country last year to lead Cal State L.A. That was the best finish for a Golden Eagle since 1994. She also finished second in the nation in the 5,000 meters in outdoor track and earned All-America honors.
Moriah Jubrey earned three All-America honors, one in indoor track in the 400 and three in outdoor track and field in the 100, 200 and as part of the 4x100 relay.
Cal State L.A. student-athletes in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field combined for 10 All-America awards and 19 All-Conference awards in 2008-09. In cross country, Wadeck was the individual champion and joined
Liliana Hernandez,
Lorena Banda and
Dora Perez on the All-CCAA team. In outdoor track and field, Wadeck won two conference titles in the 1,500 and 5,000, Jubrey won a title in the 200,
Denina Speights won a title in the long jump and
Sierra Backus won one in the triple jump. Wadeck, Jubrey (2),
Shianne Smith, Backus,
Karla Alburez and the 4x100 relay team of Backus, Jubrey,
Tanyshia Ridley and Smith earned All-America awards.
Cal State L.A. will kick off the 2009 cross country season on Sept. 5 when the Golden Eagles compete in Cal State Fullerton’s Season Opener.
Division II Women’s Program of The Year
1. Grand Valley State 8 pts
2. Adams State 21
3. Seattle Pacific 22.5
4. Western Washington 37.5
5. Shippensburg 41.5
6. Cal State L.A. 46
7. Minnesota-Deluth 50
8. Western State 52.5
9. Slippery Rock 77.5
10. Missouri Southern State 79.5
11. Pittsburg State 82.5
12. U-Mass Lowell 114.5