New Orleans, LA – For the second year in a row the Patriots men were named the USTFCCCA Jack Hazen NAIA Men's Program of the Year. Cumberlands become the first program since 2022 to win the award in back-to-back seasons.
 
This honor is given to the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year, including the cross country, indoor, and outdoor seasons, and how they finished at each of those respective championships. Cumberlands tallied 11 total points on the year with their impressive finishes at all three NAIA Championships.
 
The Pats started the year with a third-place finish at the NAIA Cross Country Championships in Columbia, Mo. Youssef Asslouj posted the top performance in program history, placing third individually while Luca Madeo followed with another All-American finish as well. As a team, UC combined for 155 points for the top-three finish.
 
Indoor saw the best nationals finish for UC as they earned national runner-up in the team standings. Madeo and Asslouj brought home individual championships in the in the 5K and 3K run, while the Pats earned 19 other All-American honors as well. The Patriots finished second in the DMR while Jaysaun Smith finished third in the 400m and helped the 4x400 squad finish third as well. UC ended with 64 points for second place in the team standings.
 
UC rounded out their year with a sixth-place outdoor finish. Madeo posted another national championship performance in the 10k, while Cumberlands' 4x400 squad finished first for the first time in program history as well. Iloba Godspower, Cam Andrews, Kerrington Eubanks, Roderick Soto, and Jaysaun Smith all contributed to the Pats 4x400 win. UC placed third in the 4x100 and earned three other All-American finishes to score 38 team points for sixth.
 
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 school's split points for positions taken.
 
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