Men's Running Program Recognized

NEW ORLEANS -- The BYU men’s running program finished third in the USTFCCCA John McDonnell Program of the Year standings, the team’s highest finish in the three year history of the award.

The USTFCCCA Program of the Year award is given to the institution with the best combined team finishes in each of the NCAA’s cross country/track and field sports in an academic year. Florida State was the recipient of 2011 award after finishing second at the cross country and outdoor track and field championships.

BYU finished third in the standings after finishing 18th in cross country, third in indoor track and eighth in outdoor track. In the previous two years the BYU men’s program has finished 17th and eighth, respectively.

Junior Miles Batty led the cross country team in the fall with an individual 15th place finish in 30:09.4. Batty also led the indoor track and field team with his National Championship in the mile and his anchor leg of the winning distance medley relay team.

Batty continued to be the focal point of the men’s track team during outdoor season before senior Leif Arrhenius stole the show at Nationals. Arrhenius, who also won the shot put National title during indoor season, placed second in both the shot put and discus to lead the Cougars to a top-10 finish.