For Immediate Release
Saturday, May 15, 2021
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Elite 18 Award

DULUTH, Minn. - Kendall Hill of the University of Minnesota Duluth was named the 2021 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for men’s outdoor track & field.  Hill was presented the award prior to Saturday's competition at the NSIC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which were held at Malosky Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota and hosted by the University of Minnesota Duluth. Hill becomes a four-time recipient of the award as he also earned the NSIC Elite 18 Award for men's outdoor track & field in the spring of 2018; at cross country in the fall of 2018 and at men's indoor track & field in 2019-20.

As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration during the 2016-17 academic year, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NSIC’s 18 Championships.

Hill is a senior majoring in civil engineering and holds a 4.00 grade point average. The Duluth, Minnesota native finished ninth in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 9:50.28 at this year's NSIC Outdoor Track & Field Championships.

Selection Criteria
1. Academically the student-athlete has achieved at least a sophomore status as defined by his or her own institution.

2. Athletically the student-athlete is in his or her second year of competition at his or her current institution.

3. Athletically the student-athlete is an active member on the roster and a member of the designated squad size for the sport at the championship site.

4. A student-athlete may win the award only once per academic year even if she or he participates in more than one sport.

5. Grade point average is based on the cumulative grade point average at the time of nomination as calculated by each institution. Grade point average calculations will be based on a 4.00 scale and will be reported to two decimal places.

6. In the event of a tie based on grade point average, the award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest total number of credit hours earned.

7. If a tie still exists after looking at the total number of credit hours earned, all student-athletes who are tied shall be presented with the NSIC Elite 18 Award.

For more information on the Elite 18 award winners, log on to: http://northernsun.org/Elite18