Kopp puts The Master’s on the map (Running)
Kenai’s Holly Kopp doesn’t just run cross country and track for The Master’s College in Santa Clarita, Calif.
She’s a trailblazer.
Kopp, of Grace Christian fame, won the recent Biola Invitational with a 5K time of 18:05.
It was the first individual meet victory in the history of The Master’s College women’s cross country program.
“Holly’s really emerged on the running scene in a big way,” head coach Zach Schroeder told a local newspaper. “It’s very, very exciting for the women to be breaking new ground. For them, it’s just a mark of success, and it’s really tremendous to see Holly step up and lead the team to the way we’ve been racing.
“The truth is, this is really a story-book year for the women and I think a kid like Holly will be one of the kids that the school will look back and say this is a kid that really propelled athletics at The Master’s College forward and I think we’re starting to see that too.”
Kopp is a sophomore transfer from Biola University.
She already owns school records in every distance: 1,500 (4:52), 5K (17:38) and half-marathon (1:23:46).
Last year she qualified in two events for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, where she became the first female athlete in the history of The Master’s College to advance to the finals.