Six members of the Dordt University men's track and field team qualified for nationals on an incredible first day of the University of South Dakota Early Bird Invite held today in Vermillion, S.D.

• Results | 

Three Defenders, Peter Shippy, Payton Mauldin and Davis Tebben, hit the 'A' standard in their respective event. 

Shippy finished second overall among 30 runners in the 3000m steeplechase. The junior closed the race with a great final 800m and nearly caught the first place runner (Adnew Stueven - MSU Moorhead) in the end. Shippy ran a personal-best time of 9:21.35, currently the fastest in the GPAC and No.3 overall in the NAIA. 

Mauldin continued to dominate in the middle distance races as he finished third in the 800m with an 'A' standard time of 1:50.19. Mauldin was less than a second in back of the top two runners, both from Minnesota State-Moorhead. The junior has the third fastest time in the NAIA and No.1 in the GPAC. 

Tebben finished second and hit the 'A' standard in the final race of the day, the 10K. Tebben was edged out in the end by an unattached runner (Garret Ehlers) but turned in a time of 30:49, second fastest in program history and the No.5 time in the NAIA. 

Three additional Defender runners, Thaniel Schroeder, Joe Anderson and Peyton Miller, hit the 'B' standard in their respective event. Schroeder placed third in the steeplechase, just behind his teammate (Peter Shippy), completing the 3K race with a personal best time of 9:24.04. Anderson was the first to cross the finish line in the 5000m, completing the race in a time of 14:44, ninth fastest in the NAIA and the top time in the GPAC. Miller ran a personal best time and finished second in the 400m hurdles. Miller crossed the finish line in 54.0, less than a second off the school record and the 'A' standard time.

A total of 10 Defenders recorded top 10 finishes today. Both Aidan Vorster (4th) and Jacob Brouwer (10th) joined Tebben in the top 10 in the 10,000m. Vorster ran a personal best time (31:30), shattering his previous by 30 seconds. Trey Engen placed sixth in a loaded 1500m field with a personal best time of 3:57.37 and Cole Zevenbergen had a top 10 finish (9th) in the 800m. 

Defenders in the Top 10:

• 3000m Steeplechase:
  • Peter Shippy - 2nd: 9:21.35
    • NAIA 'A' standard
    • personal best time 
    • No.3 time in the NAIA
    • No.3 time in program history
    • fastest time in the GPAC
  • Thaniel Schroeder - 3rd: 9:24.04
    • NAIA 'B' standard
    • just .04 away from the 'A' mark
    • personal best time
    • No.7 time in the NAIA
    • No.2 time in the GPAC
    • No.6 time in program history
• 800m:
  • Payton Mauldin - 3rd: 1:50.19
    • NAIA 'A' standard
    • No.3 time in NAIA
    • No.3 time in program history
    • fastest time in the GPAC
  • Cole Zevenbergen - 9th: 1:56.4
    • No.3 time in the GPAC
• 400m Hurdles:
  • Peyton Miller - 2nd: 54.0
    • NAIA 'B' standard
    • less than a second (.3) off from the 'A' mark
    • personal best time by .7
    • No.8 time in the NAIA
    • No.2 time in program history
    • fastest time in the GPAC
• 5000m:
  • Joe Anderson - 1st: 14:44.6
    • NAIA 'B' standard
    • No.9 time in the NAIA
    • No.3 time in program history
    • fastest time in the GPAC
• 1500m:
  • Trey Engen - 6th: 3:57.37
    • No.7 time in program history
    • personal best time by .11
    • No.2 time in the GPAC
• 10,000m:
  • Davis Tebben - 2nd: 30:49
    • NAIA 'A' standard
    • No.5 time in the NAIA
    • No.2 time in program history
    • fastest time in the GPAC
  • Aidan Vorster - 4th: 31:30
    • No.4 time in program history
    • personal best time by 30 seconds
    • No.2 in the GPAC
  • Jacob Brouwer - 10th: 33:04
    • No.4 time in the GPAC