The University of Akron Athletics
Garretson Named Three-Time Winner of Elite 90 Award
March 14 | Track & Field
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – University of Akron track and field redshirt senior pole vaulter Hunter Garretson (Newcomerstown, Ohio) is the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2025 NCAA Division Men's Track and Field Indoor Championship.
Garretson, who is majoring in mathematics, boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA, was presented with the award during a presentation on Friday afternoon.
Winning the honor for the third consecutive season, Garretson becomes the first three-time recipient of the award in Division I track and field. Equally impressive, he is the ninth three-time award winner across all sports in Division I since the award's inception joining Lauren Beers (Alabama-Women's Gymnastics), Megan Buja (Maryland-Eastern Shore-Bowling), Megan Carter (Northeastern-Women's Hockey), Clay Reem (North Dakota State-Wrestling), Noah Roberson (Penn State-Men's Gymnastics), Loren Shealy (North Carolina-Field Hockey), Zoe Stukenberg (Maryland-Women's Lacrosse) and Carson Wentz (North Dakota State-Football).
The honor is the fourth time a Zip has garnered the distinguished honor joining Tyler Sanda, who won the award as a member of the Akron men's soccer team in 2015.
A four-time All-America honoree, Garretson competed the men's pole vault at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships earlier in the day on Friday (March 14).
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 Elite 90 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.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to https://www.ncaa.com/elite-90.
Garretson, who is majoring in mathematics, boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA, was presented with the award during a presentation on Friday afternoon.
Winning the honor for the third consecutive season, Garretson becomes the first three-time recipient of the award in Division I track and field. Equally impressive, he is the ninth three-time award winner across all sports in Division I since the award's inception joining Lauren Beers (Alabama-Women's Gymnastics), Megan Buja (Maryland-Eastern Shore-Bowling), Megan Carter (Northeastern-Women's Hockey), Clay Reem (North Dakota State-Wrestling), Noah Roberson (Penn State-Men's Gymnastics), Loren Shealy (North Carolina-Field Hockey), Zoe Stukenberg (Maryland-Women's Lacrosse) and Carson Wentz (North Dakota State-Football).
The honor is the fourth time a Zip has garnered the distinguished honor joining Tyler Sanda, who won the award as a member of the Akron men's soccer team in 2015.
A four-time All-America honoree, Garretson competed the men's pole vault at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships earlier in the day on Friday (March 14).
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 Elite 90 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.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, log on to https://www.ncaa.com/elite-90.
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