Western Wayne Today

In 2019, Ransom Allen joined the Wayne State University men's cross country team with the goal of becoming an All-American. Five years later, he concludes his college career with three All-American awards. This achievement makes him only the second athlete in nearly a century of program history to achieve this feat, following Rachelle (Malette) Christensen.

Reflecting on his journey, Allen considers these accolades as his proudest individual accomplishment. He chose Wayne State over other options like the University of Michigan because he wanted to contribute immediately. "I wanted to go to a school where I could contribute right away," Allen explained.

His impact was immediate; as a freshman, he earned the title of Athlete of the Year and received Second Team All-GLIAC honors. Grant Lofdahl, Wayne State's Cross Country and Track and Field Head Coach, recognized Allen's potential early on.

The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted his 2020 season but provided him with an opportunity for uninterrupted training. "I think COVID was a big plus for my training," said Allen, who increased his weekly mileage significantly during this period.

Allen's success continued post-pandemic. He earned First Team All-GLIAC and NCAA Midwest All-Region honors in each of his final three seasons. As a redshirt senior this fall, he won both the GLIAC championship and NCAA Midwest Regional titles.

Academically, Allen excelled as well. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering with a GPA close to 4.0 and is pursuing a master's degree in the same field. Lofdahl praised Allen's composure: "He is very smart … he never gets rattled."

Running served as an escape from academic pressures for Allen, allowing him to maintain high training volumes while managing his studies effectively.

His academic success led to an internship at SpaceX in Boca Chica, Texas, during summer 2022. There, he worked on the super heavy booster integration team and gained valuable insights into rocket manufacturing processes.

Despite balancing rigorous academics and athletics, Allen remained humble and enjoyed time with friends over casual meals like burgers and pizza.

Looking ahead, while competitive running may be ending for him, Allen sees engineering as his future path. Though uncertain about specific plans, he feels prepared by both his education and athletic experiences: "Both school and running have prepared me."