INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Following the 2023-24 academic year Cleveland State's Madelynn Madison from the cross country and track & field teams has been named the inaugural Horizon League Sportsmanship Award Honoree. The award, which is voted on by the league's competition cabinet, is in its first year of existence.
Madison was also recognized following the indoor track & field season as the co-#HLTF Sportsmanship Award honoree.
"I am so happy for Maddie to be recognized as the Horizon League's inaugural Sportsmanship Award honoree. Not only is she one of our team captains, but she goes above and beyond in making everyone feel welcome in athletic and academic spaces," head coach Jason Hudson said. "She doesn't just cheer on her own teammates, but she cheers on everyone she competes against. She is the first one to help a fellow competitor after a race or say thank you to an official. It's great that the league is able to recognize individuals for their off-track success, and for Maddie's attitude and personality to be noticed with a league-wide award is wonderful."
New for the 2023-24 academic year, the Horizon League recognized student-athletes from each sport that had distinguished themselves through demonstrated acts of sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, schools were also asked to nominate an overall representative at the end of the year, which the league then selected from to be recognized as the overall sportsmanship award winner.
"Our league is committed to good sportsmanship and we are honored to recognize Madelynn as our first Horizon League Sportsmanship Award winner. Madelynn and our other finalists clearly demonstrate our values of respect and integrity and we are so proud of the way they represent us before, during and after competition," said Horizon League Commissioner Julie Roe Lach.
Competitively, Madison is a junior on the Cleveland State cross country and track & field teams.
During the 2023 cross country season Madison was a top-three finisher for the Vikings during three meets, while she set personal-bests on both the 5K and 6K courses.
On the track, Madison combined for 11 top-10 individual finishes during both the indoor and outdoor campaigns, setting career-bests in all of the events she competed in during the year. In addition, Madison set the program record in the 1500 Meter Run at the Horizon League Outdoor Championships, posting a time of 4:41.54 during qualifying to earn a spot in the event finals.
