For Immediate Release
Friday, October 24, 2025
NSIC Media Relations

WAYNE, Neb. – The University of Minnesota Duluth's Elizabeth VanLoon was voted by the league coaches as the winner of the NSIC Women’s Cross Country Outstanding Senior of the Year Award.  The native of  New Brighton, Minnesota holds a 4.00 grade point average while majoring in cell and molecular biology. She was presented the award following the NSIC Cross Country Championships, which took place on Friday, October 24 in Wayne, Nebraska; hosted by Wayne State College. 
 
The “NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year Award” is presented to a NSIC women’s cross country student-athlete who participates at their institution for four years and is academically superior while making a positive contribution to their team and the University. The NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year award was initiated in 2020-21 to honor an outstanding senior that exemplifies the attributes of the model NSIC student-athlete.
 
VanLoon was part of the 2022 NCAA National Qualifying Cross Country team which finished 20th in the nation. She finished in 30th place at the 2024 NSIC Championships after a 53rd place finish (22:54.2) in 2023.  She also ranks ninth all-time at UMD in the 3,000m Steeplechase with a time of 11:05.88. 

In the classroom, VanLoon holds a perfect 4.0 GPA with minors in chemistry and coaches. She has been a multiple time member of the NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence. She is also a three-time winner of the NSIC Elite 18 Award (women's cross country in 2024 & 2025 and indoor track & field in 2023-24.  

In the community, VanLoon engages in a variety of activities and services. A few of her engagements include teaching in the kid's church/nursery at her church in Duluth as well as serving on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council in the UMD Athletics Department which helps serve the greater Duluth community. 

“Elizabeth is one of the most well-rounded student athletes I have ever had the pleasure of coaching. She excels in the classroom, community, and competition. Her commitment to each of these domains has allowed her to inspire others on our team and in our community. She is dedicated to her craft and making a difference in the lives of those around her. Elizabeth is an exceptional student athlete with the will to succeed which has culminated in her illustrious career as a Bulldog,” said Head Coach Brette Jensen. 

About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past three decades, maturing into a union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 27 team national championships and crowned 122 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.