Hokie ClubNEW ORLEANS – After a stellar year for the Virginia Tech men's track and field and cross country programs, the Hokies found themselves ranked No. 5 in the John McDonnell Men's Division I Program of the Year standings, as announced by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) on Tuesday.
The John McDonnell Men's Division I Program of the Year honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field seasons) based on the institution's finish at the NCAA 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 Championship in cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field (i.e. 1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points, 31st = 31 points) with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award recipient. Ties among schools split points for positions taken.
The Hokies turned in their best finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships since 1987, finishing in 20th place in Louisville, Kentucky.
Peter Seufer, a redshirt sophomore from Lynchburg, Virginia, came in 45th overall with a time of 30 minutes, 8.58 seconds in the 10K race. He was the Hokies' top finisher. Redshirt senior Patrick Joseph nearly broke into the top 50, as he finished 52nd overall with a time of 30:12.41. Joseph moved up 10 spots in the final 2,000 meters.
In College Station, Texas, the Tech men won the distance medley relay, bringing back home Tech its 17th national title and first crown in a distance event at the NCAA Indoor Championships. The Hokies finished fourth in the team standings, their highest finish in school history behind the DMR's 10 points, the mile seeing Vincent Ciattei, Joseph and Neil Gourley racking up 15 points and pole vaulter Deakin Volz collecting six points.
Last weekend at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Tech posted a 15th-place finish and scored 17 points. It marked the seventh-most points scored at the national outdoor meet in school history. Ciattei won a silver medal in the mile and the pole vaulters, made up of Torben Laidig, Joel Leon Benitez and Volz, recorded nine points. All three vaulters earned first-team All-America honors, marking the first time a team has had three first-team All-Americans in the pole vault since 1985 (Baylor).
In total, Tech registered 39 points. Alabama won the John McDonnell award with 28.5 points, Arkansas (31 points) placed second, Stanford (35.5) took third and Northern Arizona (37.5) finished fourth.