PUEBLO, Colo. - Colorado State University Pueblo senior shot putter Katherine Higgins (Mead, Colo./Ponderosa) is the recipient of the NCAA ELITE 90 award for the 2025 NCAA Division II Women's Outdoor Track and Field Championship.

Higgins, who earned her undergraduate degree in Middle School Mathematics, is pursuing a master's degree in Education and carries a 4.0 cumulative GPA. Higgins was presented with the award following the conclusion of the podium presentation of the women's shot put on Saturday afternoon at the CSU Pueblo ThunderBowl in Pueblo, Colo. Higgins claimed the 2025 National Championship in the women's shot put with a personal best throw of 16.38 meters (53-9). 

The Elite 90 award honors the exceptional achievements of student-athletes. This prestigious accolade is given to those who have not only excelled at a national championship level in their sport but have also achieved the highest academic standards among their peers. The Elite 90 is proudly awarded to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA at the finals site for each of the NCAA's 90 championships.

Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken by the number of credits completed.

Higgins is the sixth CSU Pueblo student-athlete to earn an Elite 90 Award as she joins men's soccer player Kenshin Uneo (2023-24), men's indoor and outdoor track and field athlete Derrick Williams (2017-2018, 2016-17 and 2015-16) and football player Joseph Shultz (2014-15).

For more information on the Elite 90 award winners, go to www.ncaa.org/elite90.