Northwest Missouri State University senior javelin thrower Dakota Schmidt has been honored with the prestigious NCAA Elite 90 Award at the 2023 NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
 
Schmidt (Platte City, Mo.) has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average throughout his undergraduate and graduate career as a Bearcat. He gained his undergrad degree from Northwest in applied health: exercise science. He is pursuing a master's degree from Northwest.
 
Schmidt is a two-time NCAA outdoor All-America performer in the javelin. He placed 16th earlier today at the 2023 championships. Schmidt placed 12th in 2021 and 11th in 2022. He came into this year's NCAA meet ranked No. 16 in the men's javelin with a season-best toss of 210'11" (64.28m).
 
Schmidt is the third Bearcat to earn the Elite 90 Award following Trevor Adams (Football) in 2013 and Jaran Richman (Men's Basketball) in 2021. Schmidt is the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association's 46th Elite 90 recipient.
 
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 who have participated in their sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.
 
For more information on the NCAA Elite 90 Award, click here.