MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Freshman Joy Nauko of the West Virginia University track & field team has been named the Mid-Atlantic Region Women's Track Athlete of the Year, by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Poll.

The Kapenguria, Kenya, native earned the outdoor regional honor after finishing third in the women's 10,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 12 in Eugene, Oregon.

Naukot clinched the 10,000 meters bronze medal after posting a personal and program record time of 31:34.34, besting the meets previously held record. Additionally, the time marks the sixth fastest time in the event on the NCAA's all-time list.

The freshman became just the fourth Mountaineer in program history to earn a First Team All-America honor in the 10,000 meters and the only freshman to ever do so.

At the Big 12 Outdoor Championships in Lawrence, Kansas on May 15, Naukot won the 10,000-meter title with a time of 33:30.84. She is the second Mountaineer to win the event at the Big 12 Championships, joining alumna Kaitlyn Gillespie.

Additionally, Naukot went sub-16 in the 5,000 meters this season with her personal best time of 15:49.37 at the Penn Relays on April 24 in Philadelphia.

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