JONESBORO, Ark. (6/26/23) – Wrapping up the 2022-23 athletics season, the Arkansas State Athletics program led all Sun Belt Conference schools in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings and the A-State women’s programs finished inside the top-50 of the Capital One Cup standings fourth time in program history.

Among Sun Belt Conference programs, Arkansas State led the final 2022-23 Learfield Directors’ Cup coming in at No. 128. A-State not only had the best score among all Sun Belt schools for the fourth time in school history, but also jumped 52 places in the standing this year after coming in at No. 180 in 2022-23. Ranking No. 128, A-State had its fourth best ranking in program history since the Directors Cup national all-sports standings began in 1993-94.

The Capital One Cup is awarded annually to each of the best men’s and women’s Division I college athletics programs in the country. A-State ranked No. 49 this season, up 20 spots from the 2021-22 season. Since the award was established in the 2010-11 season, A-State has four top-50 finishes, including two in the last three seasons, and is among the top-two finishers in the Sun Belt Conference in each of the last 10 seasons. A-State’s highest ranking was No. 44 in 2013-14.

Among the highlights of the 2022-23 athletics year, the A-State women’s bowling team finished runner-up at the National Collegiate Bowling Championship for the third time in program history. Brooklyn Buchanan and Emma Stull earned National Ten Pin Coaches Association (NTCA) All-American accolades, the 14th season, 12th consecutive, that A-State bowling had multiple All-America picks.

For the first time in program history, A-State women’s track had multiple First Team All-American selections in outdoor track. Pauline Meyer became the first women’s distance runner to earn All-America honors (indoors or outdoors) by finishing eighth in the 3000-meter steeplechase. Camryn Newton-Smith earned All-America honors with an eighth-place finish in the heptathlon.

The LEARFIELD Directors’ Cup was developed as a joint effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) and USA Today. Points are awarded based on each institution’s finish in NCAA Championships.

The Capital One Cup is the embodiment of hard work, dedication, and an enduring commitment to excellence that student-athletes and teams display throughout their year-long journey. The elements of the trophy personify achievement at the highest level, and symbolize strength, perseverance, and vision.