Joan Elizabeth HANSEN

Joan Hansen and her twin sister, Joy, started out in sports as swimmers, and competed in that sport at the University of Arizona. They both switched to distance running, however, and made the track team at Arizona as walk-ons. After college Hansen eventually earned a graduate kinesiology degree at CSU Fullerton and competed for the Los Angeles Track Club. She competed in the 3,000 metres at the 1981 and 1983 Universiade, and also represented the US at the 1982 International Cross-Country Championships.

As Joan Hansen-Lester, she coached at Concordia University, then became assistant women’s track coach at the University of Iowa, and later became the cross-country coach at the University of North Texas. Both Joan and Joy Hansen became members of the University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame.

Personal Bests: 800 – 2:06.7 (1981); 1,500 – 4:08.4 (1984); 1 Mile – 4:32.61 (1981); 3,000 – 8:41.43 (1984); 2 Miles – 9:31.01i (1982); 5,000 – 15:39.08 (1984).