The Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) announced its weekly award for women's cross country and Dordt University freshman Joy Koole earned the honor for the second time this season.

• GPAC Press Release | PDF

Koole was the top GPAC runner and second among NAIA competitors at the Holiday Inn Express Classic run last weekend on the Defenders Home Course. 

Notes:

• Koole finished fourth overall among the 150 runners in the Gold Division, trailing Grace Steinmetz (Bellevue) and two runners from NCAA D-II Minnesota State
• the freshman crossed the finish line with a personal-best time of 21:20, 41 seconds faster than her previous mark
• this was Koole's third top 10 finish of the season and she has been the Defenders top runner in all three meets that she competed in
• Koole's 8K time is the fastest in the GPAC this season and ranks seventh in the NAIA
• Koole helped lead the Defenders to a second place finish as a team, tops among the NAIA teams
• this is the second time Koole earned the GPAC honor (Sept.17)
• this is the third time a Defenders women's runner earned the GPAC honor (Hannah Thong - Sept.24)
• Dordt will compete in the Mount Marty Invite on Thursday, Oct.23 in the final meet of the regular season