FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas won the John McDonnell Program of the Year award for the 2020-21 academic year.
The award, which is named for the former coach of the Razorbacks, is based on points at NCAA meets in men’s cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field. Arkansas’ men finished fourth in cross country, seventh indoors and 28th at the outdoor meet that concluded last week.
Arkansas’ score of 40 in the program of the year standings was just ahead of BYU at 40.5.
The Razorbacks were named as the recipient of the award nine days following McDonnell’s death June 7 at the age of 82.
It is the third time Arkansas has been named McDonnell Program of the Year. The Razorbacks also won in 2012-13 and 2016-17.
The award was established in 2009, one year following McDonnell’s retirement. Under McDonnell, the Razorbacks won 40 NCAA championships and 84 conference championships.
Arkansas’ women finished second behind BYU for the Terry Crawford Program of the Year award. The Razorbacks’ women won the NCAA indoor title and had NCAA finishes of 10th in cross country and 15th outdoors.
BYU, which was the NCAA cross country champion and had top-10 finishes indoors and outdoors, was the winner of the Crawford Program of the Year with 18 points. Arkansas had 26 points.