Wayne State University Athletics

Women's Cross Country 6/1/2023 8:18:00 AM Jeff Weiss, Senior Associate Director of Athletics/Media Relations

Five Women's Cross Country/Track & Field Student-Athletes Named Academic All-District

Christensen, Owen, Wellner, Williams and Yarema honored for work in the classroom.

CSC -- Five members of the 2022-23 Wayne State University women's cross country and track & field program have been recognized with Academic All-District honors by the College Sport Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA).

Each year, the Academic-All District team recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the diamond and in the classroom.

Receiving academic All-District honors are senior Thailyia Christensen (Flushing, Mich.), junior Mikaela Owen (Bridgman, Mich.), sophomore Makenzie Wellner (Menominee, Mich.), senior Mikayla Williams (St. Charles, Mich.) and senior Charlene Yarema (Romeo, Mich.).

Christensen helped lead the WSU cross country squad to a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Championships finishing in 85th place at the NCAA Championships. She also earned NCAA All-Midwest Region accolades with a 21st-place finish along with Second Team All-GLIAC recognition in cross country. At the GLIAC Indoor Track and Field Championships, Christensen finished sixth in the 3K and was a member of the third-place Distance Medley Relay. In early May, she won the steeplechase event at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships in an NCAA Provisional time of 10:42.69, which ranks second all-time at WSU.

Academically, the Marketing major has been on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (term GPA 3.5+) all eight semesters with two 4.0 terms. Christensen will be a nine-time GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honoree (three each in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track).

Owen finished ninth in the 200m dash (26.19) and 10th in the 60m dash (8.00) at the GLIAC Indoor Championships in February, then placed fifth in the 200m dash at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships in a personal-best time of 25.44, which ranks seventh all-time at WSU. She was 10th in the 100m dash (12.60) and ran the anchor leg on the second place 4x100m relay at the 2023 GLIAC Outdoor Championships.

Academically, the Design major has been on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (term GPA 3.5+) all six semesters with three 4.0 terms. Owen will be a four-time GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honoree (two each in indoor track and outdoor track).

Wellner received USTFCCCA All-Region accolades for the 4x400m relay (school record - 3:50.66) during the indoor season, while also being a member of the GLIAC Champion 4x400m relay as well as the third-place DMR at the 2023 GLIAC Indoor Championships. In early May at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships, Wellner ran the leadoff leg on the first place 4x400m relay.

Academically, the Exercise & Sport Science has been on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (term GPA 3.5+) all four semesters with three 4.0 terms. Wellner will be a two-time GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honoree (one each in indoor track and outdoor track).

Williams finished second in the triple jump (11.51m), sixth in the high jump (1.57m) and eighth in the long jump (5.31) to score 12 points at the 2023 GLIAC Indoor Championships. At the Outdoor Championships in early May, she won the triple jump, placed third in the long jump, and was ninth in the high jump. Williams earned USTFCCCA All-Region honors for the triple jump.

Academically, the Management major has been on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (term GPA 3.5+) seven semesters with two 4.0 terms. Williams will be a six-time GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honoree (three each in indoor track and outdoor track).

Yarema began the school year helping the cross country squad to a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Championships by placing 110th. She earned NCAA All-Midwest Region accolades with a 23rd-place finish and Second Team All-GLIAC honors after finishing 15th. At the 2023 GLIAC Indoor Championships, Yarema finished seventh in the 3K race and 10th in the 5K. In early May at the GLIAC Outdoor Championships, finished sixth in the 10,000m race at the GLIAC Championships in a time of 37:30.08, which ranks sixth all-time at WSU.

Academically, the Communication Sciences and Disorders Honors major has been on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll (term GPA 3.5+) seven semesters with four 4.0 terms. Yarema will be a nine-time GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honoree (three each in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track).

This is the first Academic All-District honor for each of the five recipients.

Academic All-District® honorees advance to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot. First, Second, and Third Team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced on June 28. To be nominated, a student-athlete must be a starter or important reserve with at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) at her current institution. Beginning in 2022-23, nomination limits are in place for each sport program. Institutions should select their best candidates in each sport (women's cross country/track & field - 5). All eligible nominees will receive Academic All-District® recognition and advance to the national ballot.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Thailyia Christensen: Mid-Distance; 5' 3"; Senior; 4-Indoor/3-Outdoor

Mikaela Owen: Sprints; 5' 6"; Junior; 3-Indoor/2-Outdoor

Makenzie Wellner: Sprints/Hurdles; 5' 8"; Sophomore; 2-Indoor/2-Outdoor

Mikayla Williams: Jumps; 5' 7"; Senior; 4-Indoor/3-Outdoor

Charlene Yarema: Distance; 5' 6"; Senior; 4-Indoor/3-Outdoor

Players Mentioned

Thailyia Christensen
: 5' 3"; Senior; 4-Indoor/3-Outdoor
: Mid-Distance

Mikaela Owen
: 5' 6"; Junior; 3-Indoor/2-Outdoor
: Sprints

Makenzie Wellner
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; 2-Indoor/2-Outdoor
: Sprints/Hurdles

Mikayla Williams
: 5' 7"; Senior; 4-Indoor/3-Outdoor
: Jumps

Charlene Yarema
: 5' 6"; Senior; 4-Indoor/3-Outdoor
: Distance