EUGENE, Ore. – North Dakota State University thrower Shelby Gunnells was named the recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 Award on Thursday night at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
 
The Elite 90 Award is presented to the single student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average at each of the NCAA's 90 national championships. Gunnells has earned her Bachelor of Science degree from NDSU in geology with a 4.0 GPA.
 
Gunnells ranks eighth on the NCAA performance list in the shot put this season, and No. 2 all-time at NDSU in the event. She is a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American, and was the Summit League Indoor Field Athlete of the Year and Championships Field MVP in 2020.
 
With NDSU's Benji Phillips winning the same honor on the men's side Wednesday, NDSU becomes the third Division I school to sweep the women's and men's Elite 90 Awards at the Division I NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, joining Nebraska and Arkansas.
 
Gunnells' honor is the 14th Elite 90 Award claimed by the Bison and the second for NDSU women's track & field, joining Whitney Carlson in 2011.
 
The Elite 90 Award recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers.
 
NDSU's Elite 90 Award Winners
2011 - Amy Anderson, women's golf
2011 - Whitney Carlson, women's outdoor track & field
2013 - Esley Thorton, football
2014 - Carson Wentz, football
2015 - Carson Wentz, football
2016 - Carson Wentz, football
2016 - Clay Ream, wrestling
2017 - Clay Ream, wrestling
2018 - Daniel Polansky, football
2018 - Clay Ream, wrestling
2019 - Ben Ellefson, football
2020 - Jackson Hankey, football
2021 - Benji Phillips, men's outdoor track & field
2021 - Shelby Gunnells, women's outdoor track & field