Chambana Sun

The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) has announced its 2023-24 Freshman of the Year award winners. Max Herendeen from the golf team and Elizabeth Ndudi from track & field have been recognized as the top male and female Illini athletes in their first collegiate season. The selection was made through a vote by Illinois head coaches and DIA executive staff.

Herendeen participated in all 13 stroke play tournaments, contributing to the Fighting Illini's top-5 finish at the NCAA Championship and securing a No. 6 final ranking. He received second-team All-American honors from both the GCAA and Golfweek, was unanimously chosen as Big Ten Freshman of the Year, and earned first-team All-Big Ten recognition. Herendeen set a program record for stroke average by a freshman with a leading mark of 70.87. His postseason achievements included his first collegiate win at the NCAA Stanford Regional and a runner-up finish at the individual NCAA Championship.

Herendeen is only the second golfer from Illinois to receive this honor, following Michael Feagles in 2017.

Elizabeth Ndudi became an All-American in long jump at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a seventh-place finish (6.35m). She is the first freshman from her program to earn such honors in this event and only the third indoor long jump All-American in school history. Ndudi also secured second-team All-Big Ten honors with her runner-up performance at the Big Ten Indoor Championships (6.31m). At her first home competition, she broke the UI Armory record with a leap of 6.41m, placing third in program history. During outdoor season, she achieved a jump of 6.68m, marking it as the second-best in program history and seventh-best nationally for 2024.

Ndudi is now the tenth member of Illinois women's track & field to be named Freshman of the Year, following Olivia Howell's recognition in 2021.