New Orleans, La. - After a strong year in which the Marian women's track and field and cross country teams were all represented at their respective NAIA Championships, Marian was ranked No. 11 in the USTFCCCA NAIA Program of the Year rankings. 

The USTFCCA Program of the Year Award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field seasons) based on the institution's finish at their respective Championships.

In order to be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for each of the Championships. Scoring is based on the team's finish at each Championship in cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & 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 winner. Ties among schools split points for positions taken.

Marian was eligible for the honor for the first time, as the Knights qualified for the NAIA Cross Country Championships, while flooding the entry lists with athletes at both the NAIA Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Championships. The women's cross country team scored 12 points toward the scoring, while the indoor track and field team scored 14.5 for their 14th place finish. Outdoor track and field season ended with a 40th place finish, giving Marian 68.5 total points. 

Marian's finish in the rankings for Program of the Year is the best finish ever, with the program finishing in the standings for the first time.

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