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NAMPA, Idaho – Virginia Tech redshirt sophomore Frances Dowd (Fairfax, Va.) was honored with the NCAA Elite 89 Award at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships banquet at the Idaho Center Thursday evening. It marks the second straight year that a Tech female student-athlete has won the award in indoor track & field, as last year, Kelly Phillips earned the honor.

The Elite 89, 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 89 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA championships.

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. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.

Dowd, who is majoring in environmental policy and planning, will compete in the preliminary round of the 800 meters on Friday at 9:15 p.m. ET at the NCAA Championship. The final is at 9:45 p.m. ET on Saturday.

This season, Dowd earned All-ACC honors with a third place finish in the 800 meters at the ACC Championship (2:10.41) and last Saturday, she reset her own school record at Notre Dame’s Alex Wilson Invitational (2:05.18). Dowd initially set the school record in the 800 meters (2:07.22) at the SPIRE Division I Collegiate Invitational, while also setting the school record in the 600 (1:30.99).

More information about the Elite 89 award can be found at http://www.ncaa.com/elite89

For updates on Virginia Tech track & field, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Track).