Bison Women’s Track & Field Claims Five CSC Academic All-District Honors

FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota State University women’s track & field team had the maximum of five student-athletes named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team, the organization announced Tuesday, June 24.
 
The Bison women selected to the CSC Academic All-District Team were Ella Gardner, Jacee Johannsen, Arienne Birch, Merrideth Spiers, and Annabel Thorstenson.
 

The Academic All-District team recognizes the nation’s top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom. In addition to meeting athletic performance criteria, nominees must carry a 3.50 cumulative grade-point average with at least sophomore standing. Schools are capped at five recipients for track & field.
 
Gardner (Nora, Neb.) is majoring in psychology with a 4.0 GPA. She swept the long jump and triple jump titles at the Summit League Indoor Championships and ranked 69th nationally for the indoor long jump.
 
Johannsen (Sioux Falls, S.D.) earned a mechanical engineering degree with a 3.81 GPA and has a 4.0 GPA pursuing her graduate degree in mechanical engineering. She ranked 45th in the NCAA for the indoor pole vault and qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds outdoor.
 
Birch (Mississauga, Ontario) is majoring in biological sciences with a 3.60 cumulative GPA. She ranked 11th in the NCAA for the high jump outdoors, setting a new NDSU school record in the event at 6-01.25 (1.86m).
 
Spiers (Grant City, Mo.) is pursuing a Ph.D. in criminal justice after earning her undergrad degree with a 4.0 majoring in psychology. She ranked 45th nationally in the weight throw for the indoor season and qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds in the hammer throw outdoor.
 
Thorstenson (Champaign, Ill.) posted a 4.0 GPA to earn a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, and owns a 4.0 pursuing a master’s in criminal justice. She qualified for the NCAA West Preliminary Rounds in the hammer throw this season.