PHOENIX – It has a long name, given out by an even longer named association.
The 2013-14 Al Carius Division III Men’s Program of the Year award from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association was awarded to the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse men’s track and field team on Monday.
The award, won for a second consecutive time by the Eagles, is given to the most outstanding cross country/track and field programs in all three divisions and each gender in the NCAA.
The Eagles finished third in the NCAA Division III cross country championships. They followed that winning the indoor track and field NCAA title. The school year was capped off with a runner-up finish in outdoor track and field.
The award is named after USTFCCCA Hall of Famer and long-time North Central College (Ill.) head coach, Al Carius. He is in his 49th year of service at North Central, still as head coach of the cross country team, and has won 24 NCAA Division III National Championships.