Western Wayne Today

Wayne State University's Ransom Allen has been honored with the GLIAC Commissioner's Award for Fall 2023, as announced by the league office. This marks the second consecutive year Allen has received this recognition, having previously been awarded in Fall 2022.

The GLIAC Commissioner's Award is given to six male and six female student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically. To be eligible, nominees must have completed four semesters of full-time enrollment, maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, and be either starters or key reserves.

Allen concluded his collegiate career last fall with several achievements. He was named Division II Men's Athlete of the Year by the USTFCCCA for the Midwest Region and placed 13th at the NCAA Championship. This made him Wayne State's first male runner to become a three-time All-American by the USTFCCCA. Additionally, he won the 10K race at the NCAA Midwest Regional and was named GLIAC Runner of the Year after winning the 8K race at the GLIAC Championships.

Other accolades include being First Team All-GLIAC for three straight seasons and earning USTFCCCA men's Division II M-F National Athlete of the Week honors following his victory at the Roy Griak Invitational. Last fall, he was twice named GLIAC Athlete of the Week.

Academically, Allen earned his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering last May and began his master's studies in Mechanical Engineering during the fall semester. He maintained a GPA of 3.989 for that term and has consistently been on the Athletic Director's Honor Roll throughout his undergraduate years. Allen will also be recognized as a four-time GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team member and received CoSIDA/CSC Academic All-America accolades for two consecutive years in 2022-23.

His recent award makes him Wayne State's first cross country student-athlete to win two GLIAC Commissioner's Awards. Previously, women's cross country runner Rachelle Malette was honored in Fall 2007.