Oklahoma State University Athletics
Ballner, Dyer, Somers Named to CoSIDA Academic All-District Team
July 16, 2021 | Cowboy Cross Country & Track, Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
STILLWATER, Okla. – A trio of Oklahoma State cross country and track & field student-athletes have been named to the 2020-21 CoSIDA Academic All-District VII team on account of their success in the classroom and in their respective competitive arena, whether it be the course, the track or the field.
Ariane Ballner, an all-time distance standout for the Cowgirls hailing from Elmshorn, Germany, tabbed the fourth Academic All-District honors of her career with a 4.0 GPA during the 2020-21 season. The recent Oklahoma State alumna graduated as one of 22 Outstanding Seniors at Oklahoma State in May with a pair of degrees in management and marketing.
In all but one of the four races she competed in during the 2020 cross country season, Ballner was a point-scoring finisher and contributed to the Cowgirls' second-place finish at the Cowboy Jamboree, third-place finish at the OSU Invitational and fourth-place finish at the Big 12 Championship.
Jake Dyer, a top-10 performer all-time for the Cowboys in the heptathlon and decathlon, earned his spot on the Academic All-District team thanks in part to the 4.0 GPA he maintained en route to graduating in May as a double major in entrepreneurship and management.
Dyer saved some of the best of his athletic and academic career for his last year at OSU: he finished 10th in the heptathlon at the 2021 Big 12 Indoor Championship, earned All-Big 12 honors with his 8th place finish in the decathlon at the 2021 Big 12 Outdoor Championship and received the Dr. Gerald Lage Award in 2021, the top academic honor awarded by the Big 12 Conference.
Rounding out the group, Cowgirl distance specialist Taylor Somers also maintained a 4.0 GPA during her senior year as she pursues a degree in psychology.
A two time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection, Somers has equally impressive in competition. The Omaha, Nebraska-native has earned All-Big 12 honors five times – twice in cross country and three times during track and field competition – during her tenure at Oklahoma State.
With Ballner, Dyer and Somers achieving excellence at the All-District level, OSU now totals a school record 17 student-athletes who have earned the honor this academic year. The previous high was 11 student-athletes in 2017-18.
In the last nine years, the Pokes have had 19 cross country and track & field student-athletes named Academic All-District by CoSIDA.
The 2020-21 Academic All-District Men's and Women's Track & Field and Cross Country Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the competition realm and in the classroom.
The CoSIDA Academic All-District teams are divided into geographic districts across the United States and Canada, of which Oklahoma State resides in region seven.
As First-Team Academic All-District honorees, Dyer, Ballner and Somers will advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-American ballot. First-, Second- and Third-Team Academic All-American honorees will be announced in mid-August.
Ariane Ballner, an all-time distance standout for the Cowgirls hailing from Elmshorn, Germany, tabbed the fourth Academic All-District honors of her career with a 4.0 GPA during the 2020-21 season. The recent Oklahoma State alumna graduated as one of 22 Outstanding Seniors at Oklahoma State in May with a pair of degrees in management and marketing.
In all but one of the four races she competed in during the 2020 cross country season, Ballner was a point-scoring finisher and contributed to the Cowgirls' second-place finish at the Cowboy Jamboree, third-place finish at the OSU Invitational and fourth-place finish at the Big 12 Championship.
Jake Dyer, a top-10 performer all-time for the Cowboys in the heptathlon and decathlon, earned his spot on the Academic All-District team thanks in part to the 4.0 GPA he maintained en route to graduating in May as a double major in entrepreneurship and management.
Dyer saved some of the best of his athletic and academic career for his last year at OSU: he finished 10th in the heptathlon at the 2021 Big 12 Indoor Championship, earned All-Big 12 honors with his 8th place finish in the decathlon at the 2021 Big 12 Outdoor Championship and received the Dr. Gerald Lage Award in 2021, the top academic honor awarded by the Big 12 Conference.
Rounding out the group, Cowgirl distance specialist Taylor Somers also maintained a 4.0 GPA during her senior year as she pursues a degree in psychology.
A two time Academic All-Big 12 First Team selection, Somers has equally impressive in competition. The Omaha, Nebraska-native has earned All-Big 12 honors five times – twice in cross country and three times during track and field competition – during her tenure at Oklahoma State.
With Ballner, Dyer and Somers achieving excellence at the All-District level, OSU now totals a school record 17 student-athletes who have earned the honor this academic year. The previous high was 11 student-athletes in 2017-18.
In the last nine years, the Pokes have had 19 cross country and track & field student-athletes named Academic All-District by CoSIDA.
The 2020-21 Academic All-District Men's and Women's Track & Field and Cross Country Teams, selected by CoSIDA, recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the competition realm and in the classroom.
The CoSIDA Academic All-District teams are divided into geographic districts across the United States and Canada, of which Oklahoma State resides in region seven.
As First-Team Academic All-District honorees, Dyer, Ballner and Somers will advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-American ballot. First-, Second- and Third-Team Academic All-American honorees will be announced in mid-August.
Players Mentioned
Distance
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & Track
Distance
/ Cowgirl Cross Country & TrackFriday, June 05
Friday, May 29
Wednesday, May 27
Monday, May 18
