Upcoming Event: Men's Track and Field at Jim Duncan Invitational on April 10, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.
/
2:00 p.m.
Men's Track and Field
at Jim Duncan Invitational
South Dakota State University Athletics
SIX JACKS NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-LEAGUE
6/5/2024 2:15:00 PM | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - Six outdoor track and field student-athletes from South Dakota State were named to the 2024 Summit League Outdoor Track and Field Academic All-League team. Kayla Christopherson, Grace Waage, Daniel Burkhalter, Jeremiah Donahue, William Lohr and Hunter Wallster were each recognized.
The Academic All-League teams are voted on by a panel of Faculty Athletic Representatives and Sports Information Directors from the League's member institutions. The recipients were chosen based on their academic and athletic performances during the outdoor season.
Kayla Christopherson • Gr., Austin, Minnesota - 3.93 undergraduate GPA in biotechnology, 4.0 graduate GPA in agriculture and biosystems engineering
Grace Waage - Jr., Sioux Falls, South Dakota - 3.93 GPA in nutrition and dietetics
Daniel Burkhalter - Gr., Prairie City, South Dakota - 3.95 undergraduate GPA in statistics, 4.0 graduate GPA in data science
Jeremiah Donahue - So., Brandon, South Dakota - 4.0 GPA in biotechnology
William Lohr - R-Fr., Sioux City, Iowa - 3.89 GPA in civil engineering
Hunter Wallster - Sr., Estevan, Sk, Canada - 4.0 undergraduate GPA in mechanical engineering, 4.0 graduate GPA in mechanical engineering
Burkhalter was honored for the third time in his career and Wallster was honored for the second time.
Nominations are brought forth by sports information directors from the league's eight institutions that carry track and field, and voting is conducted by both the SIDs and facility athletic representatives (FARs). Each team is made up of the 15 student-athletes receiving the most votes with all ties standing.
2024 SUMMIT LEAGUE WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD ACADEMIC ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
*Career Outdoor Academic All-League honors
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2024 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD ACADEMIC ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
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*Career Outdoor Academic All-League honors
The Academic All-League teams are voted on by a panel of Faculty Athletic Representatives and Sports Information Directors from the League's member institutions. The recipients were chosen based on their academic and athletic performances during the outdoor season.
Kayla Christopherson • Gr., Austin, Minnesota - 3.93 undergraduate GPA in biotechnology, 4.0 graduate GPA in agriculture and biosystems engineering
Grace Waage - Jr., Sioux Falls, South Dakota - 3.93 GPA in nutrition and dietetics
Daniel Burkhalter - Gr., Prairie City, South Dakota - 3.95 undergraduate GPA in statistics, 4.0 graduate GPA in data science
Jeremiah Donahue - So., Brandon, South Dakota - 4.0 GPA in biotechnology
William Lohr - R-Fr., Sioux City, Iowa - 3.89 GPA in civil engineering
Hunter Wallster - Sr., Estevan, Sk, Canada - 4.0 undergraduate GPA in mechanical engineering, 4.0 graduate GPA in mechanical engineering
Burkhalter was honored for the third time in his career and Wallster was honored for the second time.
Nominations are brought forth by sports information directors from the league's eight institutions that carry track and field, and voting is conducted by both the SIDs and facility athletic representatives (FARs). Each team is made up of the 15 student-athletes receiving the most votes with all ties standing.
2024 SUMMIT LEAGUE WOMEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD ACADEMIC ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
| Name | School | Year | Hometown | GPA | Major |
| Jadyn Keeler | North Dakota | So. | Barrie, Ontario, Canada | 3.95 | Molecular and Integrative Biology |
| Malene Kollberg** | North Dakota | Jr. | Drammen, Norway | 3.91 | Kinesiology |
| Tiffanie Magnusson | North Dakota | So. | Uppsala, Sweden | 4.0 | Mechanical Engineering |
| Nell Graham** | North Dakota State | Sr. | Dodge Center, Minn. | 3.86 | Business Administration |
| Allie Niska | North Dakota State | Jr. | Duluth, Minn. | 3.9 | Biology Sciences |
| Alex Seagris | North Dakota State | So. | Amherstburg, Ontario | 4.0 | Exercise Science |
| Merrideth Spiers | North Dakota State | Jr. | Grant City, Mo. | 4.0 | Psychology/Criminal Justice (Gr) |
| Makenna Vollmer | North Dakota State | Jr. | Harvey, N.D. | 4.0 | Exercise Science |
| Jaidyn Garrett | South Dakota | Sr. | Columbus, Neb. | 3.80 | Kinesiology and Sport Management |
| Gen Hirata*** | South Dakota | Gr. | Fredericksburg, Va. | 3.96/3.67 (Gr) | Media and Journalism/Interdiscuplinary (Gr) |
| Erin Kinney** | South Dakota | Sr. | Harrisburg, S.D. | 3.93 | Kinesiology and Sport Management |
| Jacy Pulse*** | South Dakota | Sr. | Salem, S.D. | 3.96 | Nursing |
| Sara Reifenrath** | South Dakota | Jr. | Hartington, Neb. | 3.97 | Computer Science |
| Averi Schmeichel** | South Dakota | Jr. | Hartford, S.D. | 3.97 | Nursing |
| Kayla Christopherson | South Dakota State | Gr. | Austin, Minn. | 3.93/4.0 (Gr) | Biotechology/Ag and Biosystems Engineering (Gr) |
| Grace Waage | South Dakota State | Jr. | Sioux Falls, S.D. | 3.93 | Nutrition and Dietetics |
*Career Outdoor Academic All-League honors
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2024 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD ACADEMIC ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
| Name | School | Year | Hometown | GPA | Major |
| Luke Labatte*** | North Dakota | Sr. | Inver Grove Heights, Minn. | 3.89 | Commercial Aviation |
| Carter Elde | North Dakota State | So. | Grand Forks, N.D. | 3.95 | Exercise Science |
| Cam Landis | North Dakota State | Gr. | Madison, Ohio | 3.98/3.94 (Gr) | MBA |
| Paul Olson | North Dakota State | So. | Oxbow, N.D. | 4.0 | Management Information Systems |
| Sam Roller | North Dakota State | Jr. | Thompson, N.D. | 4.0 | Biological Sciences |
| Jacob Van Dusseldorp | North Dakota State | Jr. | Watertown, S.D. | 3.92 | Business Administration |
| Mitchell Piehl | St. Thomas | So. | Hutchinson, Minn. | 3.98 | Computer Science |
| Jack Rosner | St. Thomas | Jr. | De Pere, Wis. | 3.93 | Electrical Engineering |
| Spencer Buley | South Dakota | Jr. | McKinney, Texas | 4.0 | Sport Marketing and Media |
| Marshall Faurot**** | South Dakota | Gr. | Scott City, Kan. | 3.84/3.75 (Gr) | Kinesiology and Sport Management/MBA |
| Dylan Kautz*** | South Dakota | Gr. | Norfolk, Neb. | 3.87/4.0 (Gr) | Accounting/MBA |
| Bennett Schwenn | South Dakota | So. | Milbank, S.D. | 4.0 | Pre-Business |
| Daniel Burkhalter*** | South Dakota State | Gr. | Prairie City, S.D. | 3.95/4.0 (Gr) | Statistics/Data Science (Gr) |
| Jeremiah Donahoe | South Dakota State | So. | Brandon, S.D. | 4.0 | Biotechnology |
| William Lohr | South Dakota State | R-Fr. | Sioux City, Iowa | 3.89 | Civil Engineering |
| Hunter Wallster** | South Dakota State | Sr. | Estevan, Sk, Can. | 4.0/4.0 (Gr) | Mechanical Engineering (Gr) |
*Career Outdoor Academic All-League honors
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Track and Field
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Men's Track and Field
/ Women's Track and Field
/ Men's Track and Field
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