Oregon Sweeps Program of the Year Awards

NCAA trophy - Indoor Championships (March 2026)

06/16/26 | Cross Country, Track and Field

The Ducks finished top five at all three NCAA Championships during the 2025-26 season.

EUGENE, Ore. – The Men and Women of Oregon have swept the USTFCCCA Division I Program of the Year awards as announced Tuesday by the coaches association. The latest recognition marks the sixth time the teams have won top program in the same year.

Since the award's inception ahead of the 2008-09 season, Oregon has won USTFCCCA Program of the Year a total of 18 times—12 women, six men. The award honors the institution that has achieved the most success, based on national finish, at the three championship meets during each academic year.

2026 John McDonnell Men's Division I Program of the Year (final standings)
1. OREGON – 12
2. Arkansas – 20
3. Alabama – 31
4. New Mexico – 37
5. Viriginia – 39

2026 Terry Crawford Women's Division I Program of the Year (final standings)
1. OREGON – 9
2. Florida – 12.5
3. BYU – 20
4. New Mexico – 27
5. South Carolina – 39

The Ducks finished top five at all three NCAA Championships this past season. The UO men were the indoor runner-up coupled with fifth-place showings at the cross country and outdoor championships. The Oregon women tallied three podium finishes: third in cross country, second indoor and fourth at last week's outdoor meet.

The Men of Oregon last won Program of the Year in 2015-16, the last of three-consecutive honors after winning the first two in 2008-09 and 2009-10. The Women of Oregon won Program of the Year the first nine seasons of the award followed by awards in 2018-19 and 2024-25.

The program's national success was echoed at the conference level where Oregon swept the Big Ten Triple Crown this year, and has now won 10 of the 12 conference titles since joining the league.

Oregon added three national champions at the recently completed NCAA Outdoor Championships at Hayward Field. Simeon Birnbaum won the 1500 meters, Aaliyah McCormick successfully defended her title in the 100-meter hurdles and Ben Smith took the top spot in the shot put.

The Ducks collected 14 USTFCCCA All-America First Team certificates—eight men, six women—which were announced Monday. Full list of Oregon's outdoor All-Americans is below.

2026 USTFCCCA Outdoor All-Americans
MEN
First Team
Benjamin Balazs – 3,000m steeplechase
Tre Betts – triple jump
Simeon Birnbaum – 1500 meters
Elliott Cook – 1500 meters
Kobe Lawrence – shot put
Ben Smith – shot put
Daniel Thrana – javelin
Pat Vialva – javelin

Second Team
Jaelon Barbarin – 4x100 relay
Kai Graves-Blanks – 4x100 relay
PJ Ize-Iyamu – 4x100 relay
Tomas Palfrey – 1500 meters
Luke Tewalt – 5,000 meters
Grant Valley – 4x100 relay

WOMEN
First Team
Marie Josee Bovele-Linaka – discus
Juliet Cherubet – 1500 meters
Sharifa Davronova – triple jump
Alicia Khunou – discus
Aaliyah McCormick – 100m hurdles
Wilma Nielsen – 1500 meters

Second Team
Silan Ayyildiz – 1500 meters
Diana Cherotich – 10,000 meters
Juliet Cherubet – 5,000 meters
Micaela De Mello – 100m hurdles

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