Carpenter Earns Second NCAA Elite 90 Award

UW-Oshkosh's Jordan Carpenter was named the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2015 NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country Championship that was held Nov. 21 at the Lake Breeze Golf Club in Winneconne.

The Elite 90, an award founded by the NCAA, 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. The award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.

Carpenter, who also received the Elite 90 for the 2014 NCAA Division III Men's Outdoor Track & Field Championship, is UW-Oshkosh's second multiple winner of the award. John Dewitt collected the Elite 90 award for the 2011 and 2012 NCAA Division III Men's Cross Country Championships.

Carpenter earned his first All-America citation by leading UW-Oshkosh to a 13th-place finish at the 2015 NCAA Division III Cross Country Championship. He finished 13th among the meet's 278 runners with an 8,000-meter time of 24:38.70. Carpenter also placed 45th at national championship in 2014, 108th in 2013 and 264th in 2011.

Earlier this year, the Ashwaubenon native finished fifth at both the WIAC Championship and NCAA Division III Midwest Regional. He also placed second at both the Midwest Open and Roy Griak Invitational and fifth at the Notre Dame Invitational.

Carpenter majored in economics and completed his undergraduate work with a 4.00 cumulative grade point average in December 2014. He currently is pursuing a master's degree in business administration.

Carpenter is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and has been recognized on UW-Oshkosh's Dean's List every semester. He is a member of Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society and has served as president of UW-Oshkosh's Optimist Club. Carpenter has also worked as a graduate assistant and campus tutor.

This past October, Carpenter was named the winner of the WIAC's Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award for men's cross country. Last spring, he was named to the Men's Cross Country/Track & Field Academic All-America® Second Team, as selected by the College Sports Information Directors of America.

Eligible student-athletes for the Elite 90 are sophomores or above who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. They must be an active member of the team, traveling and a designated member of the squad size at the championship. The number of credits completed breaks all ties.

For more information on the Elite 90 award, visit ncaa.org.