ANDERSON, S.C. - Anderson University senior Whitney Bishoff has been named the recipient of the Elite 89 award for the NCAA Division II Women's Cross Country Championship, as announced Saturday.
Bishoff, majoring in education, currently carries a 4.0 GPA. She was presented with the award during the award presentations Saturday morning in Spokane, Wash. Bishoff also earned the prestigious NCAA Elite 88 Award at the 2011 Indoor Track & Field Championships in March.
The native of Winder, Ga. made her third career appearance in the NCAA Cross Country Championship on Saturday, capping a stellar cross country career. She was named to the Capital One Academic All-America® Women's Track & Cross Country first team following the 2010 season after earning ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District first-team accolades in 2009.
She was one of only three Georgia natives and represented the only school from the state of South Carolina in either the University or College divisions to earn a first-team nod. She has been named to the Anderson University Dean's List all six semesters, the Conference Carolinas' Presidential Honor Roll four semesters and the South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll last year.
The Elite 89 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships. The Elite 89, 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.
Eligible student-athletes 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. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
For more information on the Elite 88 award winners, log on to NCAA.com/elite89.
