[Track and Field] Women's Track & Field/Cross Country Trio Earn CoSIDA Academic ...

WICHITA, Kan. – Friends University Track & Field/Cross Country student-athlete standouts Kayla Allen, Aubry Donley and Aileen Gurrola have each been voted as College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District first-team picks, the organization announced today (July 15).

As first-team all-district selections, Allen, Donley and Gurrola now advance to the CoSIDA Academic All-America ballot, with first-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees being announced in mid-August.

Voted on by CoSIDA members, eligible nominees must have maintained a minimum 3.30 cumulative grade-point-average, be an important starter or reserve and completed 12 months at the nominating institution. Nominees must have also completed their sophomore academic and athletic year.

"All three of these women have done a phenomenal job over their career at Friends in establishing our programs as national contenders athletically and I am very proud to see that they are also setting the example in the classroom," said Henry Brun, Friends Track & Field head coach.

"It is accomplishments like these that truly show how they embody the idea of a student-athlete. Their leadership in the classroom and on the track certainly help the bright future of our programs."

Allen capped her star-studded career with a third-place All-America finish in the 5K Race Walk at this past season's NAIA Outdoor meet.

A Lewiston, Maine native, Allen also earned All-America honors in the 3K Race Walk and has achieved NAIA Scholar Athlete and USTFCCCA All-Academic status.  

Allen was recently hired as an Admin/SID Graduate Assistant Intern in the Friends University athletic department, where she will be the game administrator for select home events while also serving as the primary SID contact for cross country, competitive cheer, men's and women's golf and men's and women's tennis.

Donley, a finalist for this season's Greater Wichita College Female Athlete of the Year, captured the NAIA Indoor national championship in the 800 meter with a school record time of 2:13.69.

The Lincoln, Kan. native also fueled the Falcons' runner-up finish at the KCAC Cross Country meet with a second-place individual result.

A two-time KCAC Cross Country Runner of the Week, Donley is also an NAIA Scholar Athlete recipient while earning a spot on the NAIA USTFCCCA All-Academic team.

Gurrola ran a school record 1:33.21 to win the NAIA National Indoor championship in the 600 meter dash while also capturing the KCAC title this year in the 1,000m to help the Falcons win their seventh straight league title.

A native of Garden City, Kan., Gurrola was part of a record-setting 4 X 800 relay effort (9:15.77) at the 2020 NAIA Indoor meet. At the same meet, she set the school record in the 1,000m (2:55.95) with an All-America run.

A solid student-athlete, Gurrola also earned NAIA Scholar Athlete honors this past season.

"I couldn't be more proud of these three young ladies for exemplifying what it means to be a great student athlete here at Friends University," said Jason Parr, Friends Cross Country head coach.  "These three ladies have embodied what it means to be dedicated to their entire body of work.  All three are great examples of what it looks like to work each and every day."

For the official CoSIDA Track & Field/Cross County Academic All-District release, click HERE.