NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA — The cross country and track & field programs at Central College have had strong 2023-24 seasons and are both among the top NCAA Division III programs in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Program of the Year standings at the 2024 Mid-Year Update.
           
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.

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.

The Central women are in seventh place after finishing ninth at the cross country championships and 13th at the indoor track and field championships. The Dutch men are 16th after placing 15th at the cross country championships and 38th at the indoor track and field championships.

Central's outdoor track and field season starts on Thursday by hosting the Central Invitational. Field events begin at 11 a.m. with track events to start at 1 p.m.