Joel was a standout prep competitor at White Bear Lake High School where he posted a best of 4:17.46 in the 1600m.  He was a four-time Cross Country All Conference runner, finishing 9th and 20th  at the Minnesota State AA High School Cross Country Championships.  In his senior track season in 2012, he placed 9th in the 1600m at the 2012 Minnesota State AA High School Track meet.

At South Dakota State University, he was a 2-time NCAA DI Cross Country All-American finishing as high as 20th at the national championships, and a 4-time Summit League Champion.  He also placed 6th and then 3rd at the NCAA DI Midwest Region Cross Country Championships.  During his collegiate career, he set three school records – 13:53.05 in the Outdoor 5000m, 14:07.19 for the Indoor 5000m, and 28:55.84 in the Outdoor 10,000m (his coach, Olympian Rod DeHaven, ranks 4th in the 10,000 in Jackrabbit school history).

Joel began training with Minnesota Distance Elite in the fall of 2017. He represented Team USA at the 2019 NACAC Cross Country Championships. In 2021, he ran personal bests of 28:23 in the 10,000m. He placed 6th at the 2021 USATF 10 Mile Championships in 47:36, and 3rd at the 2022 USATF Marathon Championships in 2:12:11. He officially joined the team in September 2018.