University of St. Thomas - Minnesota Women's Track

Sweeneys teams have won a remarkable 77 of a possible 102 MIAC team championships in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. Thats the most by any coach in Division III womens sports.   Under Sweeneys leadership, the Tommie womens track and field team won its 12th consecutive MIAC outdoor title in 2016 and its 30th in the last 32 years. The St. Thomas indoor team won the programs 17th consecutive championship and 29th in 32 seasons. UST cross country has won 16 of 35 conference titles. The 2014 and 2015 teams qualified for the NCAA Division III meet, with the 2015 squad also capturign the region title.   Sweeney was named the 1995 National Coach of the Year in track and field and been honored as MIAC Coach of the Year several times, most recently in 2014. A Chicago, Ill., native, Sweeney was a standout distance runner for the Tommies in the late 1970s and was elected into the St. Thomas Athletic Hall of Fame.   Joe and wife Kathleen reside in New Brighton and have raised five children.   Besides the St. Thomas successes in CC and on the track, Sweeney's teams have been excellent students and active members of the campus scene.   The UST achievements under Sweeney's guidance include:  --27 individual national championships (two in cross country, 26 in track & field) --16 top-7 national team finishes in cross country (five championships, five runner-up finishes) --The lone Minnesota university to win an NCAA women's track relay championship (4x100 in 1997; DM Relay indoors 2010, 2015 and 2016) --More than 160 All-American honors in cross country and track & field --Eleven CoSIDA Academic All-America honors, four NCAA Postgraduate Scholars --Top-5 national team placings in cross country, indoor and outdoor track 28 times --UST has had a cross country All-America or a team in the national meet 28 out of 36 seasons --Five impressive MIAC consecutive team championship streaks 17, indoor track (2000-present); 14, outdoor track (1985-98); 13, outdoor track (2004-present); 9, indoor track (1989-97); and 9, cross country (1981-89). The Toms also swept the MIAC "triple crown" for CC, indoor and outdoor track titles in 2006-07, 2007-08 and 2008-09. --The top individual finisher in five of the last 19 conference cross country meets --St. Thomas track and field sent a womens or mens relay team into the finals at outdoor nationals a remarkable 34 consecutive years before the streak ended in 2016.