NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Wartburg College men's and women's track and field programs each earned top-10 finishes in the 2025-26 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Program of the Year standings, the organization announced.

The Wartburg men placed third in the Al Carius Men's Program of the Year standings, marking the highest finish in program history. The Knights recorded a third-place finish at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, placed ninth at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships, and finished seventh at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships to accumulate 19 Program of the Year (POY) points.

The Wartburg women finished 10th in the Deb Vercauteren Women's Program of the Year standings. The Knights placed 23rd at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships, 15th at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships, and 17th at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships to total 55.5 POY points.

The top-10 finish marks the 11th time since 2009 that the Wartburg women's program has concluded the academic year among the nation's top 10 in the USTFCCCA Program of the Year standings – fourth time for the men's team.
 
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 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.
 
USTFCCCA PROGRAM OF THE YEAR HISTORY
Women

2009 1st
2010 4th
2011 not ranked
2012 1st
2013 1st
2014 1st
2015 8th
2016 not ranked
2017 not ranked
2018 10th
2019 not ranked
2020 not awarded
2021 not awarded
2022 5th
2023 5th
2024 5th
2025 11th
2026 10th
 
Men
2009 not ranked
2010 not ranked
2011 not ranked
2012 not ranked
2013 not ranked
2014 not ranked
2015 not ranked
2016 not ranked
2017 not ranked
2018 16th
2019 7th
2020 not awarded
2021 not awarded
2022 6th
2023 12th
2024 6th
2025 13th
2026 3rd