Joy Koole was named the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA) NAIA Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week as announced by the national office earlier today.
This is the second time Koole earned the weekly honor from the USTFCCCA (also on Sept.16).
National Athlete of the Week is an award selected and presented by the USTFCCCA Communications Staff at the beginning of each week to 14 collegiate cross country athletes, when applicable (male and female for each of the three NCAA divisions, the NAIA and the NJCAA).
The award seeks to highlight not only the very best times, marks and scores on a week-to-week basis, but also performances that were significant on the national landscape and/or the latest in a series of strong outings. Quality of competition, suspenseful finishes and other factors will also play a role in the decision.
Notes:
- this is the fourth installment of the weekly honor with USTFCCCA
- Koole was the first runner to cross the finish line in the Holiday Inn Express Classic - Gold Division, last weekend
- the sophomore crossed the finish line with a 6K time of 21:51, just ahead of her teammate Addy Liston
- this was the second win for Koole this season and third for her career
- Koole helped lead the top-ranked Defenders to the team title with 25 points
- Koole led a 1-2-3 finish of Defenders with Liston and Bailey VanderGriend following
- Dordt also shined in the Black Division, winning the women's team title with a perfect team score of 15 points, led by Kyrin De Groot who placed first
- Koole currently has the seventh fastest 6K time in the NAIA (21:08), one of four Defenders in the top 20
- this is the second time Koole has earned the weekly honor for the USTFCCCA
