AUSTIN, Texas –
Emily Diercks of Fort Hays State cross country/track and field was named to the CSC Academic All-America Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Team for 2024-25, released on Tuesday (July 15). She was a third-team selection. This award honors a combination of academic and athletic accomplishments of the individuals selected.
After a strong two years career at Colby Community College, Diercks burst on the scene in a big way for Fort Hays State in 2024-25. She was the MIAA Champion and a national qualifier in cross country, then earned All-America honors during the outdoor track and field season with a ninth-place finish in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Championships.
Diercks won the 2024 MIAA Championship in cross country by covering the 6K course in a time of 21:30.9, giving FHSU the individual conference champion for a second-straight year after
Regan Hodsden won the title in 2023. She went on to individually qualify for the NCAA Championships by placing seventh at the NCAA Central Regional with a time of 21:12.7, her fastest time of the year. At the NCAA Championships, she finished 71
st in a time of 21:49.5.
During the track and field season, Diercks was a three-time All-MIAA performer. She earned the distinction both indoor and outdoor in the 5,000 meters, as well as the indoor 3,000 meters. By running a new school record 34:46.53 in the 10,000 meters during the outdoor season, she punched her ticket to the NCAA Championships where she finished ninth for USTFCCCA All-America Second Team honors.
Academically, Diercks earned the MIAA Scholar-Athlete honor for cross country, as well as indoor and outdoor track and field. She was also a member of the MIAA Academic Honor Roll for all three. She maintains a 3.82 cumulative GPA as a Health and Human Performance major.
Diercks gives FHSU its 77th CSC Academic All-America selection all-time for all sports. She is the sixth individual from FHSU to receive the distinction in 2024-25, joining Tadhg Walsh (men's soccer), Myles Menges and Josh Shaw (football), Katie DeGarmo (women's basketball), Cooper Scheck (men's golf).
Fort Hays State's first CSC Academic All-America selection occurred in 1975. FHSU now has 47 Academic All-America selections since joining the MIAA in 2006-07. The track and field program at FHSU has now received 20 CSC Academic All-America selections all-time.
Below is the 2024-25 CSC Academic All-America Team for Women's Track and Field/Cross Country.
| FIRST TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Blessing Akintoye |
West Texas A&M |
So. |
4 |
Health Sciences |
| Alyssa Becker |
University of Mary |
Sr. |
3.95 |
Nursing |
| Kyla Davis |
Pittsburg State University |
Sr. |
3.92 |
Interior Design |
| Annika Esvelt (1) (8) |
Seattle Pacific University |
Gr. |
3.99 |
Applied Human Biology |
| Natalie Graber |
Grand Valley State University |
Gr. |
3.93/3.93 |
Physical Therapy |
| Katherine Higgins (3) |
CSU Pueblo |
Gr. |
3.88/4.00 |
Middle School Mathematics (U) / Education (G) |
| Anna Igims (2) |
Slippery Rock University |
Sr. |
3.98/4.00 |
School Wellness Education |
| Brynn King |
Roberts Wesleyan University |
Gr. |
4.00/3.85 |
Exercise Science & Strategic Leadership |
| Shannon King |
Colorado Christian University |
Gr. |
4.00/4.00 |
Psychology (U) / Clinical Mental Health Counseling (G) |
| Kendall Kramer |
University of Alaska Fairbanks |
Sr. |
3.89 |
Biological Sciences |
| Kelly Leszcynski |
Bloomsburg |
So. |
3.98 |
Middle Level Education - Math |
| Allyssa Mahone |
Missouri Western State University |
Sr. |
4.00/3.88 |
Business Administration |
| Klaudia O'Malley (3) |
Grand Valley State University |
Gr. |
3.81/3.81 |
Occupational Therapy |
| Jenna Ramsey-Rutledge |
Colorado School of Mines |
Sr. |
3.84/4.00 |
Applied Math & Statistics (U) / STEM Education (G) |
| Kylie Ray (1) |
University of Findlay |
Gr. |
3.96/3.98 |
Physical Therapy (G) |
|
|
|
|
|
| SECOND TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Jadyn Barnes |
Northwest Missouri State University |
So. |
4 |
Dietetics |
| Allison Beasley |
Western Colorado University |
Jr. |
3.99 |
Computer Science-Software Engineering |
| Kiera Blankinship (2) |
Harding University |
Sr. |
4 |
Marriage & Family Counseling |
| Kaylee Diamond |
Grand Valley State University |
Sr. |
3.64 |
Exercise Science |
| Rosie Fordham (2) |
University of Alaska Fairbanks |
Sr. |
3.76 |
Chemistry |
| Brianna Green |
Fresno Pacific University |
Gr. |
3.81/3.81 |
School Psychology |
| Hannah Hartwell |
Fort Lewis College |
Jr. |
3.97 |
Environmental Biology |
| Jadyn Herron |
Colorado State University Pueblo |
Jr. |
3.97 |
Social Work |
| Claire Kintzley |
Colorado School of Mines |
Sr. |
3.93/3.88 |
Computer Science (U) / Data Science (G) |
| Emy Ntekpere |
Central Washington University |
So. |
3.55 |
Biochemistry |
| Erica Schamel (3) |
Pittsburg State University |
Sr. |
3.8 |
Recreational Services, Sport & Hospitality Mgmt. |
| Emily Swanson |
University of Sioux Falls |
Sr. |
3.87/3.91 |
Business Administration (G) |
| Liezl Theron |
Lee University |
Sr. |
3.62 |
Biological Sciences |
| Dale Thompson |
Colorado School of Mines |
Sr. |
4.00/4.00 |
Biochemistry (U) / Chemistry (G) |
| Annie Wild |
Stanislaus State |
So. |
3.93 |
Communications |
|
|
|
|
|
| THIRD TEAM |
|
|
|
|
| Name |
School |
Yr. |
GPA |
Major |
| Rasha Badrani |
Cal State San Marcos |
Jr. |
3.78 |
Business Administration |
| Caitlin Burmester |
Bentley University |
Sr. |
3.95 |
Accounting & Liberal Studies |
| Jennifer Cichra |
Slippery Rock University |
Jr. |
4 |
Mechanical Engineering |
| Emily Diercks |
Fort Hays State University |
Jr. |
3.82 |
Health & Human Performance |
| Anna Fauske |
University of Colorado Colorado Springs |
Sr. |
3.63 |
Nursing |
| Makenzie Garr |
Missouri Western State University |
So. |
3.94 |
Health & Exercise Science |
| Aria Hawkins |
Lee University |
Sr. |
3.57 |
Psychology |
| Amber Lawless |
Wingate University |
Jr. |
4 |
Educational Studies |
| Zoe Pentecost (2) (6) |
Indianapolis, University of |
Sr. |
3.85 |
Physical Therapy |
| Isabelle Peters |
Pittsburg State University |
Gr. |
3.87/4.00 |
Educational Leadership |
| Kate Strader |
Pittsburg State University |
Sr. |
3.88 |
Elementary Education |
| Sophia Strange |
Oklahoma Baptist University |
Sr. |
3.8 |
Nursing |
| Blakelee Winn (2) |
Pittsburg State University |
Sr. |
3.73 |
Exercise Science |
| Molly Winner |
Ashland University |
So. |
3.66 |
Education |
| Peyton Yoshida |
Point Loma Nazarene University |
Gr. |
3.96/3.98 |
Medicine (G) |
(1) - 1st team Academic All-America® in 2023-24
(2) - 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2023-24
(3) - 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2023-24
(6) – 3rd team Academic All-America® in 2022-23
(8) – 2nd team Academic All-America® in 2021-22
