NEW ORLEANS - For the third straight year, the Nicholls State University women's track & field team was recognized for its work in the classroom as the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) revealed Thursday its All-Academic Teams. 

In order to be named all-academic, the team's cumulative grade-point average must be 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for the academic year. The Colonels finished 2022-23 with a team 3.08 GPA. 

Senior Elsa Rijpstra posted another 4.0 campaign as a health sciences major and garnered her third Southland Conference All-Academic honor for track. She was also a three-time academic selection in cross country, giving her the maximum of six academic honors in her three cross country/track seasons. 

On the track, Rijpstra placed in three events in the SLC Outdoor Championships -- second in the 10,000m, sixth in the 5000 and eighth in the 3000 steeplechase. She also took second in the 3000m at the Samford Invite, setting the program's indoor record time. 

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