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

DULUTH, Minn. - Augustana's Rachel Rairdon was named the 2021 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for women’s outdoor track & field.  Rairdon was presented the award prior to Saturday's competition at the NSIC Indoor Track & Field Championships, which were held at Malosky Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota and hosted by the University of Minnesota Duluth. Rairdon becomes the seventh student-athlete from Augustana to earn the award since its inception in 2016-17. 

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.

Rairdon is a senior majoring in accounting; business administration and finance and holds a 4.00 grade point average. The Fort Collins, Colorado native finished second in the 3000m steeplechase at the NSIC Championships with a time of 10:50.68.  Eariler this season she ran personal-best in both the 3,000m steeplechase and the 5,000m. Her 3,000m steeplechase time of 10:41.42 at the Drake Relays was a provisional-qualifying time that currently sits her 10th in the nation and fifth on Augustana's all-time list. Her 17:10.62 time posted at the GVSU Extra Weekend Meet was under two seconds away from notching her 10th on Augustana's all-time list.

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