Turkey’s Yonca Kutluk quickly turning heads for UND cross country

GRAND FORKS — Yonca Kutluk had the best long distance running season of her life last year in Turkey, ending in July with a fourth-place finish in the 5,000 meter race at the Turkish Championships.

Instead of staying in her home country and continuing her studies, Kutluk, 23, decided she wanted a new opportunity to improve herself. UND cross country coaches had reached out to her, looking to add a runner of Kutluk’s caliber.

Though she’d never visited the U.S., Kutluk knew she couldn’t pass up the chance to run at UND.

“I just wanted to go to another country to improve myself, improve my degree, my career,” she said. “I have been abroad many times, but I have never been in the USA. I told myself, ‘Why not?’ And I am here.”

Kutluk ran the first three meets of the year unattached, winning the 5k at the Ron Pynn Classic. Her first race as a Hawk was the Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pa., Sept. 30, where she finished fifth in the 6k with a time of 20:28.60.

She turned heads after the race, which consisted of nearly 400 runners, but her finish didn’t come as a surprise to her. The next week, Kutluk became the first North Dakota runner in program history to be named the Summit League Cross Country Peak Performer of the Week.

“Last season in Turkey, I did my personal best in the 5k and 10k,” she said. “I know that I can do a better job here. I believe in myself. I’m confident.”

Running here is different than in Turkey. The most glaring difference is the courses; in Turkey, cross country races are rarely held on grass. In the U.S., the majority of courses are planned on grass. It was a difficult adjustment to make, but Kutluk said it has made her a better runner.

Kutluk had to trust her coaches at the Paul Short Run because she didn’t have experience running against her competition.

“When I started the race, coach (Tom) Scott told me to just think first K,” she said, “because if you’re in first place in the first K, you can run better. And I believed him.”

She finished the first five kilometers with the front pack. With one kilometer left, “I told myself, ‘Go, Yonca. You can do that.’ I passed three people in the last K, and I came in fifth place.”

Now, Kutluk is looking forward to the Summit League Championships Oct. 28 in Brookings, S.D. The women’s team finished third last season, their highest finish since joining the Summit League. Kutluk said her 6k races in the U.S. will be her best, which gives the Hawks confidence heading into championships.

“The (Paul Short Run was) the first race of the season,” she said. “I can’t imagine the other races (this season).”