Azusa Pacific University Athletics

THIS YEAR:  One of the Cougars' top newcomers, NAIA All-American Jessica Walczak transfers to Azusa Pacific for her graduate studies and brings with her a wealth of running talent that will allow her to push for conference titles and possibly NCAA All-American recognition ... Strong runner who is known for her endurance ... Should add quality leadership to a team with 4 newcomers in the program.

DORDT:  Ran 4 seasons of cross country and track & field at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, where she was a 5-time NAIA All-American, including twice in cross country ... Was also a 9-time Great Plains Athletic Conference champion between cross country and track & field ... During her 2023-24 senior campaign with the Defenders, finished eighth at the NAIA Cross Country Championships in Vancouver, Wash., with a 6K time of 21:48.5 while leading Dordt to a tenth-place team finish ... Named USTFCCCA Midwest Regional Cross Country Runner of the Year for a second consecutive year ... In track & field, captured NAIA All-America recognition in the steeplechase by finishing fifth with a personal-best 10:47.60, the second-best time in Dordt history ... Won the GPAC steeplechase (11:15.23) and 5000  (18:06.52) ... Set the school-record in the outdoor 5000 at 17:21.94 at the Kip Janvrin Open at Simpson College ... As a 2022-23 junior, earned NAIA Cross Country All-America honor by finishing ninth with a personal-best of 17:34.7 on the 5K course at the national meet in Tallahassee, Fla ... Won the GPAC cross country title with a 18:10.9 on a 5K course at Jamestown, N.D. ... In track & field, qualified for the NAIA outdoor (10,000) and indoor (3000) championships ... Was the GPAC champion in the outdoor 5000 (18:42.68) and indoor 3000 (10:29.39).

HIGH SCHOOL:  Competed 3 seasons in track & field at Abbotsford (B.C.) Christian Secondary ... While in 11th grade in 2018, was the British Columbia Provincial runner-up in the 1500 steeplechase (5:14.45) and fourth in pole vault (7' 8") ... In cross country, qualified for the British Columbia Provincial Championship Meet 3 times, posting a best of an 11th-place finish during her 12th grade season when she clocked a personal-best 24:34 on the 6.2K course at Beban Park, leading the Knights to a tenth-place finish.

PERSONAL:  Pursuing a master's degree in social work at Azusa Pacific ... Birth date is Oct. 11 ... Graduated from Dordt with a bachelor's degree in psychology ... Was a 3-time NAIA All-Scholar-Athlete ... Married Dordt baseball player Oliver Walczak of Chino Hills, Calif.