Carpenter Receives NCAA Elite 89 Award

UW-Oshkosh's Jordan Carpenter earned the NCAA Elite 89 award for being the top student at the NCAA Division III Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championship. (VIDEO)

Carpenter, a junior, holds a 4.0 GPA while majoring in economics.

The Elite 89 recognizes the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his peers. The award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 89 championships.

Carpenter gained All-America status by finishing eighth (9:09.70) in the 3,000-meter steeplechase on May 22. At the WIAC Championship, he placed third with a time of 9:21.73.

The women's Elite 89 recipient was Elizabeth Weiers from Gustavus Adolphus College.

UW-Oshkosh previously had cross country runner John Dewitt earn the Elite 89 during 2011 and 2012.

By Jon Feyen