The Dordt University men's cross country team posted a top five finish at the Blazing Tiger Classic held this morning at Mahoney State Park near Ashland, Neb.
Dordt, ranked 11th in the latest NAIA Coaches' poll, finished third among the field of 27 teams, totaling 113 points. Third-ranked College of Idaho won the team title with 31 points and had four runners finish in the top 10. Saint Mary (Kan.), ranked fourth in the last NAIA Coaches' poll, placed second with 69 points. Nine of the 27 teams competing were ranked / recognized in the NAIA Coaches poll.Â
Aidan Vorster was the top Dordt runner for the fourth consecutive meet, placing fifth overall with a career-best 8K time of 24:38. Vorster gradually moved up seven spots over the course of the race after being in 12th at the 1000m mark.
Ethan Summerhays, competing in his first race of the season, finished 20th overal with a time of 25:06, six seconds off his personal best.
Luke Swanson and
Tage Hulstein were the next to cross the finish line and gave the Defenders four among the top 25 finishers. Swanson ran a personal-best time of 25:08, 12 seconds faster than his previous best, and Hulstein placed 24th and also with a personal-best time (25:14).Â
Levi Landman was the fifth and final counter for the Defenders, placing 45th with a huge personal best time of 25:42, 18 seconds better than his previous best.
Truman Johnson (56th - 25:51) and
Sam May (67th - 26:03) round out the top seven Dordt runners.Â
"The men's team had a strong day, finishing third in one of the strongest NAIA regular season fields you will see assembled," said Dordt University Head Coach Nate Wolf. "Aidan Vorster did an outstanding job leading the men's team with his top five individual finish. Ethan Summerhays returned for the first race of his season and ran as a strong #2 for us. Luke Swanson and Levi Landman moved incredibly well over the course of the race for the best races of their careers. Tage Hulstein continued a junior race season that has seen him be the most consistent performer on the men's team. We look forward to a competitive conference race at the same course in two weeks."
College of Idaho had the top three finishers, led by Daniel Butler with a time of 23:56, followed by Hayden Bostrom (24:24) and Elias Everist (24:30).
Defender Notes:
- Dordt has finished among the top three teams in all four meets this season
- 1:04Â separated the Defenders 1-5 runners (1-5 split)
- the 1-7 split was 1:25
- four Defenders finished among the top 25, five in the top 50
- 12 Defenders ran personal best 6K times
- three Dordt runners ran season-best 6K times
- Dordt will next compete at the GPAC Championship on Nov.9
