The NAU men's cross country and track and field programs finished third in the standings for the NCAA Division I John McDonnell Program of the Year Award.

After coming in fourth place in cross country and eighth and 27th during indoor and outdoor track and field national championships, respectively, the Lumberjacks finished with 42.5 points. Oregon won the award while Arizona State came in second.

"It means a lot," track and field and cross country head coach Eric Heins said in media release. "A lot of the credit should go to David McNeill for scoring those points and winning those national championships. He will be the first to tell you that without the support of his teammates and the program, it would not have been possible."

McNeill finished second overall during the 2009 cross country season, leading the Jacks to a fourth-place finish and won national titles in the 5,000-meter race during the indoor and outdoor seasons. He also came in second in the 3,000 at the indoor championships.

"It says a lot of where NAU is at and the commitment we have to track and field and cross country," Heins said.

NAU NAMES NEW STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING COACH

Cody Hodgeson replaced Andy Williams as the NAU athletic department's strength and conditioning coach, the school announced this week.

Hodgeson is a former Jack and served as the assistant to Williams last season. Williams resigned from the position last month.

"I am excited about the opportunity to lead the strength and conditioning program at my alma mater and continuing to work with the quality student-athletes in our program," Hodgeson said in a media release.

After graduating from NAU with a degree in exercise science with minors in biology and chemistry in 2006, Williams worked at Central Connecticut State and Northern Colorado.