EUGENE, Ore. – North Dakota State University javelin thrower Sam Roller was named the recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 Award on Wednesday 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. Roller recently earned his degree from NDSU with a 4.0 GPA majoring in biological sciences.
The NDSU men’s track & field team has now claimed four of the past five NCAA Elite 90 Awards for outdoor track & field with Benji Phillips in 2021 and 2023, Jacob Rodin in 2022, and Roller this year.
This is the 21st Elite 90 Award won by an NDSU student-athlete, including a remarkable nine recipients since 2021.
Roller, a Thompson, N.D., native, qualified for the NCAA Championships in the javelin and won the Summit League title in the event this season.
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.
By The Numbers:
- 21st total NCAA Elite 90 Award for NDSU
- 9th NCAA Elite 90 Award for NDSU since 2021
- 4th NCAA Elite 90 Award in 5 seasons for NDSU in men’s outdoor track & field
https://gobison.com/news/2025/6/11/mens-track-and-field-sam-roller-named-outdoor-track-field-ncaa-elite-90-award-winner.aspx