The Dordt University women's cross country team cruised to the team title at the Briar Cliff Invite held today at the Adams Nature Preserve in North Sioux City, S.D.
Competing in its second meet of the season, the Defenders totaled 17 points and had all seven of its scoring runners place in the top 15 and had eight place in the top 20. South Dakota State finished in a distant second with 44 points, followed by Morningside (86).
Dordt was led by the trio of
Jessica Kampman,
Kristine Honomichl and
Lucy Borkowski who all recorded top five finishes and personal bests. Running in her first race of the season, Kampman was the second individual to cross the finish line but the first of the attached runners, doing so with a time of 17:53. Honomichl was close behind in third place with a time of 17:58, followed by Borkowski, who completed the 5K course in fifth place with a time of 18:27.
The next five Defender runners all finished in the top 20 and were separated by just 19 seconds.
Molly Mulder passed several runners during the final mile to record her best finish (8th) with a personal best time of 18:47.
Anika Homan turned in a season best time (18:53) and placed 11th, followed by
Taylor Anema (13th - 18:57),
Jessica Opfer (17th - 19:05) and
Elyse Kuperus (19th - 19:06).
"The women ran well today and were bolstered by Jessica's season debut," commented Dordt Head Coach Nate Wolf. "Kristine and Jessica worked together for nearly the entire race, helping each other to outstanding finishes. The women's team was bolstered by incredibly strong races by our 3-8 runners, as they packed up and kept the gap to our top two runners to 1:13. We are excited to be able to be at home next week and race on our course. With 15 teams, including some great NCAA D2 competition and multiple ranked NAIA teams, it will be one of the best meets we compete at all season."
Emma Ralston (unattached) won the women's race with a time of 17:46.
Dordt will run at its home meet next weekend, Oct. 8.
Defender Notes...
- 16 Dordt runners turned in personal bests in today's race (listed below)
- 5 Defenders ran season bests
- Four Dordt runners, Kampman, Borkowski, Homan and Kuperus, all ran a faster time today than when they raced on the same course two years ago (2020)
- Dordt's top five split: 1:00
- Dordt's top seven split: 1:12
Defenders in the top 20:
Defenders who ran a personal best: (16)
