Joy Koole claimed both the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women's Cross Country Runner of the Week honors.

This is the third time Koole has earned the GPAC honor this season and the second time for the NAIA (she was named the USTFCCCA National Runner of the Week on Sept.15). 

• GPAC Press Release | PDF
• NAIA Press Release | PDF

Notes: 

• this is the sixth installment of the weekly honor within the GPAC and the NAIA
• Koole was the first runner to cross the finish line at the Defenders home meet, the Holiday Inn Express Classic, last weekend
• the sophomore completed the 6K course in 21:51, just ahead of her teammate, Addy Liston
• this was Koole's second win of the season and third in her career
• Koole has been the top NAIA runner in all three meets this season
• the sophomore holds the seventh fastest 6K time in the current NAIA rankings
• Koole was part of a Defenders team that won the team title, their second first place finish of the season
• Dordt is ranked No.1 in the current NAIA rankings
• this is the fifth time Koole has earned the GPAC honor in her career:
  • Sept.15 and 30 in 2026
  • Sept.17 and Oct.16 in 2025
• Koole is a returning All-American for the Defenders
• Dordt is idle from competition this weekend and will next run in the Blazing Tiger Classic next weekend (Oct.24) at Mahoney State Park.