Friday was another outstanding day for the Dordt University women's track and field team as the Defenders' 4x800 relay finished as the national runner-up and Mika Kooistra qualified for the finals in the 600m.

• Results | NAIA Recap

Interview with Defender Head Coach Craig Heynen | 

The Defenders ran a season-best time and finished as the national runner-up in a classic 4x800 final in the last race of the day at the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex in Brookings, S.D. Battling head-to-head against Grace (Ind.), the Defenders ran second for most of the race and closed the gap on the final carry by Emilee Heynen but came up just short. Dordt ran a season-best time by 11 seconds, completing the relay with a time of 9:11.47. The Defenders time ranks fourth all-time in program history; relay members include Shelby Buwalda, Anmarie Stuit, Mika Kooistra and Heynen.

Earlier in the day, Kooistra advanced to the finals with her time and finish in the 600m semifinals. Kooistra, a 2021 All-American and three-time qualifier in the 600m, ran a career-best time of 1:34.07 and placed second in her heat while posting the fifth fastest time overall in the prelims. Kooistra will compete in the finals on Saturday at 1:25pm

Jessica Kampman and Kristine Honomichl both competed in the 3000m and finished 15th and 16th, respectively, with times of 10:18 and 10:24.

Defender Results:

• 4x800 Relay - 2nd, National Runner-up
  • season-best time, 9:11.47
  • 12 seconds faster than Thursday's prelim time
  • No.4 time all-time at Dordt
  • team members:
    • Shelby Buwalda, Anmarie Stuit, Mika Kooistra, Emilee Heynen
• Mika Kooistra - 600m prelims
  • 5th fastest time, advanced to finals
  • personal best time, 1:34.07
  • 2nd fastest time at Dordt
  • Saturday's final: 1:25pm
• Jessica Kampman, Kristine Honomichl - 3000m prelims
  • Kampman - 15th fastest time; 10:18.9, did not advance to finals
  • Honomichl - 16th fastest time; 10:24.1, did not advance to finals