The Dordt University women's track and field team made its outdoor season debut at the Wildcat Classic, hosted by Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. The Defenders 4x400 relay claimed the lone title and 21 Defender entries finished among the top 10 over the two day meet.

• Results | PDF

In the final event of the day, the Defenders 4x400 relay crossed the finish line first with a time of 4:03.41, over 16 seconds faster than second place Morningside. Dordt relay team members include Anmaire Stuit, Shelby Buwalda, Emilee Heynen and Mika Kooistra.

A total of 21 Dordt entries finished among the top 10 in their respective event, led by freshmen Shelby Buwalda and Ayda Den Herder, who both recorded three top 10 finishes. In addition to being part of the winning 4x400 relay, Buwalda placed third in the 400m (1:00.4) and fourth in the triple jump (10.58m). Den Herder placed fourth in the long jump (5.12m), fifth in the 200m (26.74) and anchored the Defenders 4x100 relay to a runner-up finish. Other 4x100 relay members include Erica Nikkel, Lydia Herman and Isabel De Lay.

Ashley Vandermeer recorded a pair of top 10 finishes in field events, placing 10th in the long jump and seventh in the triple jump.

Lydia Herman placed ninth overall in the 100m while both Stuit (4th) and Anna Herman (9th) recorded top 10 finishes in the 400m.

Both Heynen and Kooistra turned in top 10 showings in their individual event, finishing second and third in the 800m, trailing only a runner from NCAA D-I Creighton.

Three Defenders, Taylor Anema, Lucy Borkowski and Elyse Kuperus, placed in the top 10 in the 5000m, one of the final races of the day. Anema (18:47) led the way with a fourth place finish, closely followed by Borkowski (18:56) in fifth place. Kuperus finished seventh and ran a personal-best time of 19:07. 

Ella De Jong (6th - 400m hurdles), Kristine Honomichl (6th - 1500m), Emily Wingert (7th - High Jump) and Jaelyn Dragt (9th - Triple Jump) were the other top 10 finishers for the Defenders.

Three personal best times / marks were set today, two by Jenna Gleason and one by Kuperus (listed below):

Defender Champions:

• 4x400 Relay: 4:03.41
  • Anmarie Stuit, Shelby Buwalda, Emilee Heynen, Mika Kooistra

Personal Best Times / Marks:

• Elyse Kuperus - 5000m: 19:07 (was 19:10)
• Jenna Gleason (2x) 
  • Hammer: 34.49m (was 32.5)
  • Discus: 33.41m (30.93)

Defenders In the Top 10:

• High Jump:
  • Emily Wingert - 7th: 1.45m / 4-09.25
• Long Jump:
  • Ayda Den Herder - 4th: 5.12m / 16-09.75
  • Ashley Vandermeer - 10th: 4.68m / 15-04.25
• Triple Jump:
  • Shelby Buwalda - 4th: 10.58m / 34-08.5
  • Ashley Vandermeer - 7th: 10.12m / 33-02.5
  • Jaelyn Dragt - 9th: 9.97m / 32-08.5
• 100m:
  • Lydia Herman - 9th: 13.21
• 200m:
  • Ayda Den Herder - 5th: 26.74
• 400m:
  • Shelby Buwalda - 3rd: 1:00.4
  • Anmarie Stuit - 4th: 1:00.6
  • Anna Herman - 9th: 1:04.6
• 400m Hurdles:
  • Ella De Jong - 6th: 1:16.9
• 800m:
  • Emilee Heynen - 2nd: 2:19.4
  • Mika Kooistra - 3rd: 2:20.17
• 1500m:
  • Kristine Honomichl - 6th: 5:10.45
• 5000m:
  • Taylor Anema - 4th: 18:47
  • Lucy Borkowski - 5th: 18:56
  • Elyse Kuperus - 7th: 19:07
• 4x100 - 2nd: 51.17
  • Erica Nikkel, Lydia Herman, Isabel De Lay, Ayda Den Herder
• 4x400 A - 1st: 4:03.41
  • Anmarie Stuit, Shelby Buwalda, Emilee Heynen, Mika Kooistra
• 4x400 B - 7th: 4:34.73
  • Anna Herman, Lydia Herman, Riley Gutridge, Faith Measel