NEWS | Complete USTFCCCA release
 
New Orleans, La.----The Wingate University women's cross country and women's track and field teams received another huge honor this month, as the Bulldogs finished 10th in the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Program of the Year standings. The Wingate women earned a top-10 USTFCCCA Program of the Year finish in back-to-back years for the first time in school history.
 
The USTFCCCA Program of the Year award is based on the national finishes of the women's cross country team and the women's indoor and outdoor track and field squads. The national rankings are added up to equal the lowest point total to determine the standings. Wingate finished with 73.5 points, led by its program-best third-place performance in women's cross country.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate director of cross country and track and field Matt van Lierop
 
"For our men to finish second and women to finish 10th in the program of the year standings is no easy task. It means you need to show up, and step up, all year long. Some teams are good at cross country. Some teams are good at track. We are not one of those teams. We are GREAT at both."
 
"Not only do the student-athletes need to qualify for all three NCAA Championships, just to be considered for this honor, but when they're at the big show, they need to score. If they don't score, we're not in the conversation. If they don't qualify, there is no conversation. Not only do the student-athletes need to do their part, but so do the coaches."
 
"The coaches need to recruit 24/7/365, and once the team is on campus, the team needs to be trained and mentored, to become this all-around XCTF program. These coaches are the best there is at what they do, and what they do isn't easy. I'm extremely proud of this team and their coaches, as a part of a small private school, mixing it up with the large state schools." 
 
2025 Women's Cross Country quick season recap
 
Paced by its first four All-Americans, Wingate finished a program-best third in the 2025 NCAA Division II national championship meet. The University of Wisconsin-Parkside hosted the historic event at the Wayne E. Dannehl National XC Course in Kenosha. The Bulldogs' previous-best finish was a fifth-place showing in 2021.

Twins Abigail and Kiara Bester led the way, finishing 18th and 19th, respectively. Both runners posted personal-best times on their sport's biggest stage. Evie Brooks and Karlijn Mesman joined the Bester sisters as All-Americans. Each of Wingate's top-five runners posted a personal-best time at nationals.
 
The Bulldogs had five student-athletes finish in the top 10 as Wingate claimed its fourth consecutive NCAA Division II Southeast Region championship on the school's home turf. Brooks finished third, posting a personal-best 6K time of 21:32.92.
 
Six WU runners made the 25-person All-Southeast Region team. Newcomers Imane Jourji and Mesman finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Veterans Sira Bo and Ona Alonso took seventh and 10th place. Riya Keshaw claimed 13th place to round out Wingate's All-Region crew.
 
Wingate earned its ninth South Atlantic Conference championship, placing five runners in the league meet's top 10. The Bulldogs have won the last five SAC championship meets in a row. Abigail Bester was named the SAC Runner of the Year by virtue of her first-place performance. Her twin sister Kiara Bester finished second. Wingate had seven student-athletes make the three All-SAC teams with four runners receiving first-team laurels.
 
2025-26 Women's Indoor Track and Field quick season recap
 
Wingate sent a program-best 14 student-athletes to NCAAs March 13-14. Brooks received first team All-American honors in the mile run, claiming fourth place with her time of 4:46.79. Ally Holmberg and Amber Lawless earned honorable mention All-American laurels in the pentathlon and the shot put, respectively.
 
Wingate earned first team All-American honors in seven events at the '26 championships. The USTFCCCA honored 42 WU student-athletes with All-Southeast Region laurels. Both Bulldog teams won SAC indoor titles for the fourth year in a row.
 
2026 Women's Outdoor Track and Field quick season recap
 
The Bulldogs traveled well, sending a program-best 21 student-athletes to the '26 outdoor championships. Brooks earned first team All-American honors in the 1500 meters, finishing fourth with a personal-best time of 4:20.96. Holmberg received first team All-American laurels in the long jump, taking fifth place with her personal-best leap of 6.10 meters. Holmberg holds the Wingate standard in the event, thanks to her '26 NCAA outdoor performance.
 
In her final NCAA meet, senior thrower Amber Lawless was the school's NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete nominee. She graduated in May with a 4.00 GPA in elementary education. Eight Wingate student-athletes earned first team AA honors in the '26 outdoor championships. The USTFCCCA honored 41 WU student-athletes with All-Southeast Region laurels. Both Bulldog teams won SAC outdoor titles for the fourth consecutive season.
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 18 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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