Joy Koole earned a pair of weekly awards for her performance at the Sunflower Open, presented by Rankin / Veenstra Wealth Management, last weekend at the Defenders Cross Country course.
Koole was named both the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Women's Runner of the Week and the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) NAIA National Athlete of the Week.
Notes:Â
- this is the second installment of the weekly honor within the GPAC and USTFCCCA
- Koole was the first runner to cross the finish line in Saturday's Sunflower Open
- the sophomore ran a career-best, 5K time of 18:04, and finished nearly two seconds ahead of Defenders teammate Addy Liston
- Koole's time is the fifth fastest in the NAIA this season
- this was the second win for Koole in her Defenders career
- Koole helped lead the third-ranked Defenders to the team title with 20 points
- this is the third time Koole earned the GPAC honor
- Sept.17 and Oct.16 in 2025
- Koole is a returning All-American for the Defenders
- Dordt will not compete this weekend; up next - Augustana Invitational on Sept.25
