What a Saturday it was for Chico State women's track & field standout Elise Barnum! The junior from Sparks, Nevada notched a personal best mark in the pole vault at the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) Track & Field Championships, with her third place finish good for a spot on the awards podium and All-CCAA honors. Before the day was over, though, Barnum was recognized again—this time for her success in the classroom as the winner of the conference's prestigious Elite 13 award.
 
A childhood development major, Barnum earned the honor by possessing the highest cumulative GPA among all conference competitors that reached the CCAA Track & Field Championships.
 
Instituted during the 2017–18 academic year, the CCAA Elite 13 Award recognizes the academic and athletic achievements of one student-athlete at each conference-sponsored championship. Formerly known as the CCAA Championship Scholar Award, the Elite 13 winner must be a junior academically and in at least the second year of competition at his or hers current institution, as well as being an active member on the official championship roster.
 
Barnum was indeed active at the CCAA Track & Field Championships, scoring the highest mark among five Wildcat pole vaulters, attaining a personal best height of 3.57 meters to earn six important team points for Chico State and helping the 'Cats finish second in competition at Mangrum Track & Field Stadium on the campus of Cal State San Marcos.
 
With Saturday's award, Barnum becomes the 10th Chico State student-athlete to earn the CCAA Elite 13 award and second during the 2022–23 academic year, following Mackenzie Gill of women's soccer. Past winners include Sarah Emigh (women's soccer, 2018–19 and 2021–22), Amanda Metzger (softball, 2021–22), Gretta Kirkby (volleyball, 2020–21), Tyler Stofiel (baseball, 2019–20), Kevin Warren (men's basketball, 2019–20), Hakim Tokhi (men's track & field, 2019–20), Bekah Boyle (volleyball, 2017–18) and Caton Avilla (men's cross country, 2017–18).