The Dordt University men's track and field team made the most of a light schedule on the second day of competition at the 2023 Drake Relays held on the Blue Oval (Drake Stadium) in Des Moines, Iowa.
Grant Brouwer finished among the top 10 in the high jump, the lone individual event for a Defender, and a pair of Dordt relays advanced to their respective finals and two other relays established school record times to finish off another outstanding day on the track.Â
Brouwer finished in a three-way tie for ninth place in a loaded field made up of 21 athletes from NCAA D-I, D-II, D-III and NAIA schools. Brouwer cleared the first two heights before missing on three attempts at 2-05m (6-08.75).Â
The Defenders 4x100 relay was up first on the track, finishing second in their heat and the sixth best time overall to advance to Saturday's final. They hit the 'A' standard for the second consecutive meet, posting a time of 41.22, second best all-time at Dordt. Relay members include
Levi Schelhaas,
Logan Franken,
Ryan Schober and
Luke Wagner.Â
Dordt's 4x400 relay was up next on the track as the team of Schelhaas,
Peyton Miller,
Cole Zevenbergen and
Payton Mauldin finished third in a fast heat but still advanced to Saturday's final with the seventh best time overall (3:12.79). The Defenders not only hit the 'A' standard to qualify for nationals but turned in the fastest time in the GPAC and third best in the NAIA this season.
The Defenders final two relays, the sprint medley and 4x200, both set records and finished in the top 10 in their respective event. Dordt placed third out of 18 teams in the sprint medley while also posting a record time of 3:22.97. The Defenders were just 1.5 seconds behind champion Minnesota State (3:21.47). In seventh place after the first two carries, the Defenders moved up four spots and into third over the final three laps. Medley team members include Franken, Scober, Schelhaas and Mauldin.
Dordt finished sixth in its final event, the 4x200, and set the program record with a time of 1:27.65. The Defenders won their heat (2) and nearly led from start to finish, moving into first place on the second carry. Team members include Schelhaas, Franken, Schober and Wagner.Â
Defenders Line-Up For Saturday:
- Distance Medley (Iowa Division) - 8:30am
- Distance Medley (University / College) - 9:15am
- 4x100 Final - 4:24pm
- 4x400 Final - 4:55pm
Defender Results:
- 4x100 Relay
- 4x400 Relay
- Sprint Medley
- 4x200 Relay
