Memorial garden created for former Luther College runner Johanna Olson

A memorial garden has been created near the Luther College track for 2001 Luther graduate Johanna Olson, who lost her life to cancer early this year.

Olson was a three-time Iowa Conference MVP, three-time all-regional performer including two individual region titles, multiple school records, several time conference champion, seven-time All-American, three-time academic All-American and an NCAA Post Graduate Scholar.

During the 2000 cross country season, she never lost a race and helped lead Luther to a third place finish at the 2000 NCAA III National Championships, while capturing her first individual title.

But those who knew her said it was Olson's spirit that they will remember as much as her accomplishments.

Johanna was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in the fall of her freshman year one week after finishing second at the IIAC championships and leading her team to a title.  She underwent surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible. Only one month elapsed before Johanna began to run again, starting her journey back to being one of the conference's best female runners.

After missing her sophomore cross country season due to a re-growth of the tumor and daily radiation treatments at the Mayo Clinic, Johanna began one of the most notable comebacks to running ever achieved by a collegiate athlete. In her second full season as a cross country runner, Johanna led her team to another conference championship and ended her season as an All-American leading her team to a 15th place finish at the National Championships.

Last weekend a crowd of over 200 people, including her parents, her sister and her former coach, Betsey Emerson, gathered after the All-American Relay at Luther to dedicate the new garden.  The garden was paid through donations from friends, teammates and family members.  Current Luther College women's assistant cross country coach Yarrow Pasche says the group "wanted something that embodied Johanna."