Five Olivet College student-athletes named to CSC Academic All-District Cross Country/Track & Field Teams

OLIVET, Mich. – Five Olivet College student-athletes have been named to the 2023 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Cross Country/Track & Field Teams. The honorees are Hayden Germain and Chase Mendham from the men's team, and London Eldridge, Gabby Jolliff and Emily Norkowski from the women's team. They are now eligible to earn CSC Academic All-America® honors, where first-, second- and third-teams will be announced on June 28 (women) and June 29 (men).

To be named to the Academic All-District team, the student-athlete must be have a 3.50 or higher cumulative grade point average and be a significant contributor on his/her team.

A double major in sports psychology and psychology, Germain is a three-time All-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA) selection – twice indoors and once outdoors. He ran legs of the winning distance medley relays at the 2022 and 2023 indoor championships, and winning 4x400-meter relay at the 2021 outdoor championships.

Off the track, Germain is a member of Psi Chi (psychology honor society) and Kappa Sigma Alpha fraternity, and a fellow in the President's Leadership Institute. He received the Jare Klein Excellence award and was a 2022 United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Individual All-Academic selection. Germain developed a presentation for coaches for the Health and Human Performance lab with hopes of using new technology for future teams and student researchers.

An insurance and risk management major, Mendham also ran on the winning distance medley relays to earn All-MIAA Indoor Track & Field honors in 2022 and 2023. He holds the school indoor record in the 3000-meter run (8:56.64), along with Germain ran on the school-record 4x800 relays (indoors and outdoors) and distance medley relay (indoors).

Off the track, Mendham was a member of Gamma Iota Sigma (insurance honor society), served as a co-president for Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and was a part of the boys and girls club in southeast Detroit. Mendham is also a 2022 USTFCCCA Individual All-Academic honoree.

A biology with pre-medicine concentration major, Eldridge was second in the 400-meter hurdles and ran a leg of the second-place 4x400-meter relay at the 2023 MIAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. She holds the school record in both events – 1:06.12 in the 400 and 4:08.95 in the 4x4 relay.

Off the track, Eldridge serves as secretary for the pre-vet club, and is a part of the Global Citizen Honors Program, Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Alpha Pi Upsilon, and Sigma Zeta. She has volunteered at City on a Hill Church, American Red Cross, Project Fish, Hathaway Hills Assisted Living Home, and Ionia Conversation District.

An exercise science major, Jolliff captured the MIAA pole vault title at each of the last three championships – 2022 and 2023 outdoors, and 2023 indoors. She tied the conference record at the 2023 indoor championships to be named the MIAA Indoor Field Athlete of the Year. Jolliff holds the school indoor (11'1.75") and outdoor (11'8") record in the pole vault.

Off the track, Jolliff volunteered at multiple high school cross country, and track & field meets, cleaned-up the college square, and numerous Special Olympics events, including basketball tournaments and skill challenges.

An exercise science major, Norkowski earned 2023 All-MIAA Outdoor Track & Field honors after winning the triple jump with a school-record leap of 34 feet, 11 inches. Her other individual finishes were second in the 100-meter hurdles (15.98) and seventh in the long jump (15'7"). Norkowski also ran a leg of the school-record, second-place 4x400-meter relay. At the 2023 MIAA Indoor Championships, she was second in the triple jump and seventh in the long jump.

Off the track, Norkowski volunteered to make blankets for children in the hospital and several Special Olympics events.