Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Jake Hutchinson
Michelle Joyce Named AAC Nominee for NCAA Women of the Year
7.25.22 | Women's Cross Country, Women's Track and Field
IRVING, Texas - Temple cross country/track and field runner Michelle Joyce has received one of the American Athletic Conference's nominations for the NCAA's 2022 Woman of the Year award, joining Cincinnati's Ellie Leather.
Joyce, who is Temple's lone nominee for the award, enjoyed a spectacular 2021 cross country season, becoming just the second runner in program history to advance to the NCAA Championships after earning All-AAC honors for her third-place finish at the conference meet.
Joyce excelled on the track as well throughout her career, setting the school record in the 10,000m run at the 2021 AAC Outdoor Championships to take the silver medal. She went on to become the 5,000m champion at the AAC Outdoor Championships as well.
The NCAA Woman of the Year program was established in 1991 and honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of graduating female college athletes from all three divisions. To be eligible, a nominee must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and must have earned her undergraduate degree by Summer 2022.
In total, 151 nominees were selected by conference offices to move forward to the selection committee for Top 30 consideration, 53 of those coming from Division I institutions. The list includes 42 multisport student-athletes, including 24 two-sport student-athletes, 17 three-sport student-athletes and 1 four-sport student-athlete with an average GPA of 3.8.
The Top 30 nominees are scheduled to be announced by the NCAA on August 4.
Joyce, who is Temple's lone nominee for the award, enjoyed a spectacular 2021 cross country season, becoming just the second runner in program history to advance to the NCAA Championships after earning All-AAC honors for her third-place finish at the conference meet.
Joyce excelled on the track as well throughout her career, setting the school record in the 10,000m run at the 2021 AAC Outdoor Championships to take the silver medal. She went on to become the 5,000m champion at the AAC Outdoor Championships as well.
The NCAA Woman of the Year program was established in 1991 and honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of graduating female college athletes from all three divisions. To be eligible, a nominee must have competed and earned a varsity letter in an NCAA-sponsored sport and must have earned her undergraduate degree by Summer 2022.
In total, 151 nominees were selected by conference offices to move forward to the selection committee for Top 30 consideration, 53 of those coming from Division I institutions. The list includes 42 multisport student-athletes, including 24 two-sport student-athletes, 17 three-sport student-athletes and 1 four-sport student-athlete with an average GPA of 3.8.
The Top 30 nominees are scheduled to be announced by the NCAA on August 4.
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