University of Minnesota Duluth senior Kendall Hill has been chosen the 2021 NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for men's outdoor track and field. He was presented with the award today in a pre-meet ceremony before the final day of the NSIC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which were held on Thursday, Friday and today at Malosky Stadium on the campus of the University of Minnesota Duluth.

Hill, a Duluth native who maintains a perfect 4.00 graduate point average while majoring in civil engineering, has received the honor three times prior to this 2021 award. Hill was a prior recipient of the award for cross country and outdoor track and field in 2018, as well as indoor track and field in 2020. He is the sixth Bulldog to be bestowed with an Elite 18 Award since 2017-18, joining Grant Pulver (2017 cross country), Jason Balts (2017 and 2018 football),  Makenzie Morgen (2017 volleyball), Michaela Hesse 2018 (indoor track and field) and Valerie Hohol (2018 softball).

At the 2021 NSIC outdoors, Hill placed 9th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 9:50.28.

As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration during the 2016-17 academic year, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NSIC's 18 Championships.