16 Jul 2025 Harding Track’s Blankinship named Academic All-American

SEARCY – Harding University women’s track and field high jumper Kiera Blankinship has been named to the College Sports Communicators Second Team Academic All-America, recognizing her exceptional achievements both on the track and in the classroom. It was her second career Academic All-America honor.

Blankinship, a senior athletically and a graduate student academically, maintained a perfect 4.00 undergraduate grade-point average as a psychology major and is now seeking a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy.

In the 2025 outdoor season, Blankinship, a native of Chickasha, Oklahoma, and 2021 graduate of Amber-Pocasset High School, placed second at the Great American Conference Championships with a season-best height of 1.72m (5-7.75). She advanced to the national meet, where she earned Second Team All-America honors with a 10th-place finish, clearing 1.68m (5-6).

Blankinship’s honor is the 16th for the Harding women’s track and field program since Dawn Mason became the first Lady Bison to earn the award in 1987. She is one of eight women’s athletes at Harding to earn All-America and Academic All-America honors in her career.