by Alan Babbitt

Ana Tucker's fast start to the indoor track and field season has earned her national recognition.

The Hope College runner has been selected as the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association Indoor Women's Track and Field National Athlete of the Week for NCAA Division III.

Tucker is honored after clocking a personal-best 3,000-meter time of 9 minutes, 53.64 seconds at the Grand Valley State Bob Eubanks Open on Saturday.

The sophomore from Midland, Michigan (H.H. Dow HS) topped her previous best of 9:54.64 that she recorded in her last meet — the 2020 Wartburg College (Iowa) Qualifier.

The 9:53.64 time is the fastest in NCAA Division III so far this season.

Tucker is Hope's second USTFCCCA indoor National Athlete of the Week honoree. Erin Herrmann earned the award on December 16, 2016.