Two members of the Dordt University women's track and field team met the provisional mark and a total of nine Defenders recorded a top 10 finish to highlight the first day of the University of South Dakota Early Bird Invite held today in Vermillion, S.D.
Taylor Anema (steeplechase) and
Jessica Kampman (10,000m) hit the 'B' standard and qualified for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships in their respective events. Anema finished fourth overall in the 3000m steeplechase with a time of 11:22.76, currently the fastest time in the conference and sixth best in the NAIA to date. Anema's time this afternoon is the second fastest in program history, trailing Jen Kempers (10:30), who was an All-American in the event in 2008.
Elyse Kuperus ran a personal best time and finished right behind Anema in fifth place. Kuperus' finished with a time of 11:38, nearly 25 seconds faster than her previous best set last year at the GPAC outdoor championship. Kuperus currently sits No.2 in the GPAC and No.5 all-time at Dordt.
Kampman led a quartet of Defender runners who finished among the top 10 in the 10,000m, the final race of the day. Kampman crossed the finish line in first place with a 'B' standard time of 37:42, fastest in the GPAC to date the fourth fastest in program history.
Kristine Honomichl placed second (39:16), followed by
Lucy Borkowski in third (39:37) and
Courtney Joiner in ninth (43:12).
Three Defenders,
Emilee Heynen,
Mika Kooistra and
Shelby Buwalda, finished in the top 10 in the 800m. Heynen led the way, finishing third among the field of 51 runners with a time of 2:16.38, less than a second away from the 'B' standard. Kooistra placed sixth (2:18.04) and Buwalda finished ninth (2:18.26). All three Defender runners currently rank in the top five in the GPAC with their time today.
Defenders In The Top 10:
- 3000m Steeplechase:
- Taylor Anema - 4th: 11:22.76
- NAIA 'B' standard
- 6th fastest time in the NAIA
- #1 time in the GPAC
- #2 time in program history
- Elyse Kuperus - 5th: 11:38.96
- personal best
- #5 time in program history
- #2 time in the GPAC
- 800m:
- 10,000m:
