Contact: Renee Adam

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CLEVELAND, Ohio - Former Cleveland State cross country runner, Brittany Elmlinger has been named the Fall 2012 College of Sciences and Health Professions Valedictorian as well as the Fall 2012 Class Valedictorian. Elmlinger was selected as her college valedictorian by a group of Sciences and Health Professions faculty members, and was then selected by the Assistant Deans as the class valedictorian. Elmlinger will now deliver the valedictory address at the CSU commencement on Sunday, December 16.

"I am extremely proud of Brittany and all that she has accomplished during her time at Cleveland State, both as a student and as an athlete," head cross country coach Joe Jaketic said. "Brittany successfully handled the rigors of being a student-athlete, with her time management skills allowing her to balance her studies with all aspects of being part of a NCAA Division I team. She always represented herself, the cross country team, the athletic department and the university with dignity, respect and class. Brittany is an exemplary student-athlete, leading by example - having served as co-captain for three years and excelling in her studies to become the class valedictorian." 

Elmlinger, a native of Attica, Ohio, will graduate in December with a degree in Health Sciences and a minor in Biology. Elmlinger boasts a cumulative GPA of 3.97 and has been involved with the Honors Program since she first started at Cleveland State.

During her time at CSU, she was named a John Konstantinos Athletic Academic Honoree four times (2011, 10, 09, 08), earned Horizon League All-Academic Team accolades during 2010 - the first CSU cross country runner to earn the honor - and earned a spot on the Cleveland State Dean's List seven consecutive semesters. She helped the cross country team earn CSU's `Best of the Best' award during 2011 and 2010, while also leading the Vikings to four straight NCAA Division I USTFCCCA All-Academic Team nominations.

On the cross country course, Elmlinger holds 10 of the top-50 5K times under Jaketic, including her career-best time of 19:12 that she posted at the 2010 Horizon League Championship. She also owns four of the top-20 6K times since 2005, recording her career-best of 23:04 during her junior season. As a senior, Elmlinger led the Vikings to a fourth place finish at the 2011 league championship - their best finish in program history.

Following graduation, Elmlinger will continue her education at New York Chiropractic College, where she will be working towards her Doctor of Chiropractic.