SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Emily Haverdink of Northwestern College is this week’s GPAC/Hauff Mid-America Sports Women’s Cross Country Runner-of-the-Week. After finishing as the top NAIA runner at the Augustana Twilight on Friday, Emily Haverdink earned the GPAC honors.

Haverdink posted a time of 18:49.96, which placed her in 26th among 313 total participants from the NAIA and the NCAA. In addition to her performance among her competitors, Haverdink’s time in the 5K race eclipsed her personal best mark. Friday’s outing was her first collegiate competition.

“Emily had a remarkable race,” commented Northwestern cross country head coach Scott Bahrke. “She was smooth and in control throughout the entire race. It was an impressive performance to drop 25 seconds off her PR in her first college 5K.”

Northwestern finished 11th overall in the 28-team field and placed second among NAIA schools, with Concordia (Neb.) finishing ninth.

Haverdink is the first Red Raider cross country athlete to receive the honor since Dylan Hendricks in 2020, and the first women’s runner to be recognized since Katie Bosch in 2017.