Sullivan Earns NCAA’s Elite 90 Honor for Women’s Gymnastics

FORT WORTH, Texas – University of Oklahoma junior Meilin Sullivan was named the recipient of the Elite 90 award for the 2023 NCAA Division I Women's Gymnastics Championship on Tuesday evening.

The Elite 90, 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 90 is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.

Sullivan, an Arts and Sciences Planned Program major from Kansas City, Mo., who carries a 4.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, was presented with the award at the NCAA Championships banquet. This is the third straight year a Sooner has earned the honor, as former OU gymnast Emma LaPinta won the award in 2021 and 2022.

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

Sullivan is a two-time WCGA Academic All-American and was named to the 2022 Academic All-Big 12 First Team. She appeared as a vault specialist twice in 2022, earning a career-high 9.750 on vault both times. She also scored a 9.800 in an exhibition beam routine at the Arizona Quad meet on Jan. 22, 2022.

Sullivan became the fifth Sooner to earn the Elite 90 award in 2023, joining LaPinta, Lily Miyazaki (women's tennis, 2017-18), C.J. Cole (men's basketball, 2015-16) and Kim Moldenhauer (rowing, 2012-13).

For more information on the Elite 90 award winners and information, click here.