Upcoming Event: Women's Cross Country at Griak Invitational on September 19, 2025 at 10:45 a.m.
/
10:45 a.m.
Women's Cross Country
at Griak Invitational
South Dakota State University Athletics
THREE JACKS NAMED ACADEMIC ALL-LEAGUE
11/21/2023 1:50:00 PM | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
SIOUX FALLS, SD – Three South Dakota State cross country athletes—two men and one woman—were named to the 2023 Summit League Cross Country Academic All-League Teams, league officials announced on Tuesday.
Of the ten total athletes honored across the league for the academic and athletic performances, Caitlin Bright, Daniel Burkhalter and Will Lohr were selected to represent SDSU.
This is the first career cross country academic recognition for Bright and Lohr, while Burkhalter was honored for the third time in his career.
Bright was named to the squad with a 4.0 GPA as a Human Biology/Pre-Med major. Her junior year campaign was highlighted with a 20th place-finish at the league championship meet on Oct. 28th in Brookings.
Burkhalter, of Prairie City, joins the academic all-league team in addition to being named the 2023 Summit League Men's Cross Country Scholar of the Championship. He was recognized in previous years for a 4.0 GPA as a Mathematics major and now holds a 3.944 GPA in graduate school for Statistics. In addition to earning All-League honors with his sixth place finish at the conference meet, Burkhalter took 22nd for All-Region honors at the NCAA Midwest Regional this season.
Finally for SDSU, Lohr currently holds a 3.949 GPA as a Civil Engineering major. The redshirt freshman from Sioux City, IA took 26th at the conference meet and ran personal bests in the 8k and 10k races this season.
To be eligible for the Academic All-League team, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30 (on a 4.0 scale), completed at least one full academic year at the current institution and participated in 50 percent of their team's competitions.
Nominations are brought forth by sports information directors from the league's institutions that carry cross country, and voting is conducted by both the SIDs and facility athletic representatives (FARs). Each team is made up of the 5 student-athletes receiving the most votes with all ties standing.
2023 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ACADEMIC ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
2023 SUMMIT LEAGUE WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ACADEMIC ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
*Career Cross Country Academic All-League honors
-GoJacks.com-
Of the ten total athletes honored across the league for the academic and athletic performances, Caitlin Bright, Daniel Burkhalter and Will Lohr were selected to represent SDSU.
This is the first career cross country academic recognition for Bright and Lohr, while Burkhalter was honored for the third time in his career.
Bright was named to the squad with a 4.0 GPA as a Human Biology/Pre-Med major. Her junior year campaign was highlighted with a 20th place-finish at the league championship meet on Oct. 28th in Brookings.
Burkhalter, of Prairie City, joins the academic all-league team in addition to being named the 2023 Summit League Men's Cross Country Scholar of the Championship. He was recognized in previous years for a 4.0 GPA as a Mathematics major and now holds a 3.944 GPA in graduate school for Statistics. In addition to earning All-League honors with his sixth place finish at the conference meet, Burkhalter took 22nd for All-Region honors at the NCAA Midwest Regional this season.
Finally for SDSU, Lohr currently holds a 3.949 GPA as a Civil Engineering major. The redshirt freshman from Sioux City, IA took 26th at the conference meet and ran personal bests in the 8k and 10k races this season.
To be eligible for the Academic All-League team, a student-athlete must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30 (on a 4.0 scale), completed at least one full academic year at the current institution and participated in 50 percent of their team's competitions.
Nominations are brought forth by sports information directors from the league's institutions that carry cross country, and voting is conducted by both the SIDs and facility athletic representatives (FARs). Each team is made up of the 5 student-athletes receiving the most votes with all ties standing.
2023 SUMMIT LEAGUE MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ACADEMIC ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
| Name | School | Year | Hometown | GPA | Major |
| Daniel Burkhalter*** | South Dakota State | Sr. | Prairie City, S.D. | 4.0 | Statistics |
| Zach Johnson | North Dakota State | Sr. | Moorhead, Minn. | 3.85 | |
| Will Lohr | South Dakota State | So. | Sioux City, Iowa | 3.94 | Civil Engineering |
| Luke Labatte** | North Dakota | Sr. | Inver Grove Heights, Minn. | 3.87 | Commercial Aviation |
| Payton Smith | North Dakota State | Sr. | Carrington, N.D. | 3.89 |
2023 SUMMIT LEAGUE WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY ACADEMIC ALL-LEAGUE TEAM
| Name | School | Year | Hometown | GPA | Major |
| Caitlin Bright | South Dakota State | Jr. | Alexandria, Minn. | 4.0 | Human Biology (Pre-Med) |
| Abrielle Jirele** | South Dakota | Jr. | Eden Prairie, Minn. | 4.0 | Communication Sciences & Disorders |
| Jadyn Keeler** | North Dakota | Jr. | Barrie, Ontario, Canada | 4.0 | Molecular and Integrative Biology |
| Ava Pankratz | St. Thomas | Jr. | Eau Claire, Wis. | 4.0 | Biology |
| Abby Ripperda*** | South Dakota | Gr. | Sioux Falls, S.D. | 3.84 | Medical Bilogy |
*Career Cross Country Academic All-League honors
-GoJacks.com-
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
Cross Country Weekly Update (09.09.2025)
Tuesday, September 09
Cross Country Weekly Update (09.03.2025)
Wednesday, September 03
Fall Media Day 2025 - Rod DeHaven
Thursday, August 14