Eric Fattig Named Winner Of Prestigious Elite 88 Award
June 11, 2010
Fattig Elite 88 Award Ceremony
Scott Pole Vault Championship Award Ceremony
EUGENE, Ore. –
Kansas senior Eric Fattig was named the 2010 Men’s Track and Field Elite 88 Award winner here Friday evening at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Fattig, who will compete in the long jump Saturday morning, was honored in front of the crowd at historic Hayward Field Friday afternoon on the campus of the University of Oregon.
“I am a little speechless,” said Fattig, a Kearney, Neb., native. “There are so many deserving athletes and to be fortunate enough to win this award is amazing.”
The Elite 88 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 88 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA’s 88 championships.
Fattig is one of 24 athletes to qualify to compete in the 2010 NCAA Championships in the long jump after placing 10th at the West Preliminary meet. He owns a personal best mark of 7.60 meters (24-11.75 ft.), which he set at the Arkansas Twilight meet on April 30.
On the academic side, Fattig has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average throughout his career. He has already obtained a degree in engineering and is currently maintaining a perfect 4.0 gpa while working on his master’s degree in aerospace engineering. Fattig is a four-time member of the Academic All-Big 12 First Team and also earned CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine honors in 2008 and 2010.
In addition to Fattig being honored at Hayward Field Friday, Kansas junior Jordan Scott was honored for taking home the NCAA pole vault title late Thursday evening. Scott received his NCAA Championship trophy and had a chance to take a victory lap around the track in front of a standing room only crowd of more than 12,000 spectators.
KU will return to action at the 2010 NCAA Outdoor Championships on Saturday afternoon as Fattig will compete in the men’s long jump. Senior Lauren Bonds will run in the 1,500 meters final and sophomore Rebeka Stowe will run in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase finals. Also competing Saturday will be freshman Andrea Geubelle in the women’s long jump and freshman Mason Finley in the shot put.
