by Alan Babbitt
Hope College distance runner Ana Tucker has been chosen as the NCAA Division III Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the Week by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for the third time this season.
The sophomore from Midland, Michigan (H.H. Dow HS) is honored after running to two nation-leading performances and two school records last weekend at the Grand Valley State University Big Meet.
Tucker now owns two of the fastest individual runs in Division III this indoor season (3,000 and 5,000 meters). She also is part of the nation's fastest distance medley relay.
On Friday, Tucker clocked a Division III-leading time in the 5,000 meters of 17 minutes, 4.09 seconds.
For NCAA Championship consideration, Tucker's 5,000-meter time is converted to 17:11.98 because of GVSU's oversized track that creates faster times. She remains 12 seconds ahead of the nearest competitor.
The 17:11.98 converted run is 33 seconds faster than Emily Hamilton's old school record from 2018.
On Saturday, Tucker anchored the distance medley relay that posted a time of 11:50.92. For NCAA Division III rankings, the time is converted to 11:58.53.
Tucker teamed with senior Jacinda Cole of Holland, Michigan (West Ottawa), sophomore Grace Behrens of Mishawaka, Indiana (Trinity School at Greenlawn), and senior Hannah Kenny of Grand Haven, Michigan (Grand Haven).
The Flying Dutch remain 1 ½ minutes faster than the nearest competitor.
Hope's old distance medley relay women's record of 12:13.18 belonged to the 2018 relay of Alexis Guttilla, Rachel Satkiewicz, Chelsea Miskelley, and Rachael Webb.
This is the third USTFCCCA national weekly honor for Tucker in her career.
On Monday, Tucker was selected as the co-Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association Women's Indoor Track Athlete of the week along with Behrens, Cole, and Kenny.
