The Blue ranked among the top-ten NCAA Division III Women's cross country/track & field programs in the country in 2021-22 (Frank Poulin/D3Photography).
The Blue ranked among the top-ten NCAA Division III Women's cross country/track & field programs in the country in 2021-22 (Frank Poulin/D3Photography).
Posted: Jun 23, 2022

Wellesley Cross Country/Track & Field No. 6 in USTFCCCA Program of the Year Final Standings

WELLESLEY, Mass. – The Wellesley College cross country/track & field program finished the 2021-22 academic year at No. 6 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Program of the Year standings, ranking the Blue among the top-ten NCAA Division III Women's cross country/track & field programs in the country.

Under the direction of Head Coach Phil Jennings, Wellesley made the program's first appearance in the rankings since the Blue were 18th during the 2015-16 academic year. The USTFCCCA 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 the NCAA Championships. Johns Hopkins was the top-ranked women's program in NCAA Division III.

Wellesley finished 15th at the NCAA Cross Country championships, paced by a national runner-up performance from senior Ari Marks (Eagle Point, Ore.) and a top-100 finish from junior Claire Anderson (Denver, Colo.). Marks helped the Blue finish 13th in the team standings at the NCAA Indoor Championships with national runner-up finishes in the 3000m and 5000m. Wellesley was 12th in the team standings at the NCAA Outdoor Championships, where Marks captured NCAA titles in the 5000m and the 10,000m and classmate Maya Bradbury (Freeport, Maine) qualified for the 3000m Steeplechase.

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 & 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.

Wellesley Athletics strives for excellence at the conference, regional, and national levels, while providing opportunities for students to achieve their potential and learn the values of discipline, leadership, critical thinking, and responsibility to oneself and others.