Women's Cross Country | September 28, 2023

Perfecting her craft – it's what Taylor Joop has been doing nearly ever since she could remember.

A junior from Tolono, Ill., Joop transferred to USC Aiken after spending two years at Heartland C.C.

A standout student-athlete at Heartland C.C., Joop picked up first-team All-America honors her sophomore season after finishing seventh at the National Championship. During her outstanding sophomore campaign, she won the regional championship as well.

Through the first part of the 2023 campaign, Joop has been an excellent addition to the roster for head coach Marshall Leonard. One of the top finishers on the team, she garnered a top-10 effort at the Blue Bear Invitational.

Anyone that knows Joop could tell form an early age she was going to thrive in the sport of cross country. Although she never ran track, Joop started running because her junior high coach would have races for elementary students. A one-mile race, she would compete in it each year that she could. 

"I started in sixth grade and I've been running ever since," Joop stated. "I didn't get competitive until eighth grade. I wanted to be on the team that went to the state meet, which meant being in the top seven or an alternate. My high school team was really competitive and they won state when I was in eighth grade."

At Unity H.S., Joop was an alternate on the team as a freshman. That year, the team won the state title for cross country. After finishing third at the state meet as a sophomore and junior, Joop was unable to go to the state meet as a senior. That season, they only had regionals and sectionals due to COVID-19.

"I didn't really know where I wanted to go to college," Joop said. "The head coach at Heartland C.C. reached out and I thought I might as well go. It was the best fit for me as a starter program. In the second year, the team got second nationally at the NJCAA national meet."

A year later, as a sophomore, the team finished third while Joop shined with her seventh-place effort.

After her season, several coaches reached out about her continuing her athletic and academic career.

"I knew I wanted to go into nursing," Joop said. "I wanted to find a school that would accompany that as well. After talking to Coach Leonard, his philosophy was similar to mine and it was a younger program. I wanted to go another part of the country and I was able to apply to the nursing program."

Joop was able to get into the nursing program. When she visited the campus in March, she loved the campus and the area. Coming from a small town herself, Joop knew it was the place she wanted to continue her education and athletic career.

"I look forward to us growing," Joop said. "We have a lot of potential on the team. I'm excited to see how we do against the competition."

Joop set a goal to break the 19-minute mark in the 5k and earn a high finish at the PBC meet. With her tremendous work effort, there's no doubt she will perfect her craft this season and next while reaching her goals.    

A Closer Look
Taylor Joop - Women's Cross Country
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