GREENWOOD, Ind. – Cedarville sophomore middle distance runner Carsyn Koch was named the fifth Great Midwest Athletic Conference Women’s Outdoor Track & Field Athlete of the Week on Monday.
 
Koch had yet another memorable weekend to remember, this time turning in a fantastic performance out in California at the Mt. SAC Relays in Hilmer Lodge Stadium.
 
In a field of elite athletes from different levels, Koch clocked the fastest time in the 800-meter run around NCAA Division II for the current outdoor season.
 
Koch established herself as the clear favorite in the event with a 2:03.58, automatically qualifying for the national outdoor meet at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
 
She won her section and beat Annie LeBlanc from Oregon by less than a second; the Ducks are the nation’s top-ranked NCAA Division I program.
 
There were a total of 16 different individuals that competed in the 800 ranging from all different backgrounds. Only six current NCAA student-athletes ran and Koch was the only Division II runner.
 
Her time of 2:03.58 ranks first by a considerable amount across the country in Division II. Seattle Pacific’s Lynelle Decker is second with a 2:08.08, almost five full seconds behind Koch’s blistering pace.
 
Decker was the only runner to finish ahead of Koch at the 2015 NCAA Division II Outdoor Championships when the star Yellow Jacket was earning her stripes as a true freshman.
 
Koch met the standard for automatic acceptance in the event for the collegiate division.
 
Hilmer Lodge Stadium has served as the site of two Olympic Track & Field Trials and has been home to 20 different world records.