Women's Cross Country | October 24, 2024

AUGUSTA, Ga. – USCA women's cross country standout Taylor Joop has been named the Elite 18 award winner by the Peach Belt Conference.

The award honors the student-athlete with the highest cumulative GPA and is modeled on the NCAA Elite 90 award.

Joop, a native of Tolono, Ill., sports a 4.0 GPA. The nursing major is a PBC Presidential Honor Roll Gold Scholar and a recipient of the D2ADA Academic Achievement Award. 

A season ago, Joop earned an eighth-place finish at the Blue Bear Invitational. Additionally, her 2023 PBC Championship time of 19:45.7 marked the fifth-best time in school history.

It marks the third time the program has picked up the award in the last five years as Sophie King won back-to-back awards in 2020 and 2021. 

The 2024 PBC Championship will be held Saturday at the UNG Cross Country Course.