MIT graduate student and All-American javelin thrower Vladimir Sobes '11 was presented with the Elite 88 Award at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championship in Delaware, Ohio, on Wednesday, May 25. Sobes, who carried a perfect 5.0 grade-point average throughout his undergraduate career at MIT, joins sophomore Kyle Hannon as the Institute's 2011 winners of the Elite 88 Award, presented to the student-athletes with the highest cumulative grade-point averages participating in the finals for each of the NCAA's 88 championships. Hannon received the distinction at the Indoor Track and Field national meet.
Sobes is making his second straight appearance at the NCAA Championship. He placed third in the javelin event in 2010, earning All-American honors, and is seeded fifth entering this year's meet. He earned an SB in nuclear science and engineering and is currently pursuing his doctorate in the same subject.
The Elite 88, 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. Ties between student-athletes are broken by the number of credits each has completed.
Sobes and the other 11 MIT athletes who qualified for the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championship will compete in the national meet that began Thursday, May 26, at noon and lasts through Saturday, May 28.
For more information on the Elite 88 Award winners, click here.
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