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SFU posts best-ever placing in Directors' Cup

Clan men's golf and women's cross-country and indoor track and field led the way for Canada's only NCAA Division II school
Burnaby Now

Simon Fraser University earned its highest Sports Directors' Cup Division II all-sports ranking since joining the NCAA.

The Clan athletic program was the highest ranked Great Northwest conference team in the final standings, placing 26th overall with 467 total points. 

SFU had a previous-best 36th-best NCAA finish in 2012-13, scored points in nine different sports, led by its men's golf team, which placed fifth in the national championships and its women's cross-country and indoor track and field teams, which each placed seventh. Other Clan teams to contribute to SFU's point total included women's swimming (12th), men's cross-country (20th), men's swimming (23rd), women's outdoor track and field (26th), men's soccer (33rd) and men's indoor track and field (41st).
SFU dominated competition for the award as a member of the NAIA, winning the cup six times, including five in a row from 1996 to 2001.

golf
Men's golf placed fifth at the NCAA Division II nationals this season, Simon Fraser University's best program finish of the year. - file photo

In 2002, SFU began competing in CIS in some sports and the sports that remained in the NAIA still finished runner-up in 2007-08 and 2009-10. SFU is now the only Canadian university competing in the NCAA, giving student athletes access to the NCAA experience and a Canadian education.

Two other conference teams finished in the top 50 from a total of 254 institutions that earned points - including Alaska Anchorage and Western Washington, which finished 34th and 36th, respectively.

The Learfield Sports Directors Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and USA Today.

Points are awarded based on a school's final finish in regional and national competition in up to 14 sports – seven men's and seven women's.

Grand Valley State in Michigan finished first for the 10th time with a total of 965.5 points. All 10 Great Northwest conference schools scored points.

Final Division II Standings – 1. Grand Valley State 965.5; 26. Simon Fraser 467; 34. Alaska Anchorage 415.5; 36. Western Washington 402; 65. Alaska 276; 99. Seattle Pacific 200.2; 164. Central Washington 111; 166. Northwest Nazarene 109; 182. Western Oregon 92; 183. Saint Martin's 90.5; 209. Montana State Billings 50.