Abel Squires (Ankeny, Iowa) has signed a letter of intent to attend Dordt University and join the Defender men's cross country and track and field programs.
Squires is a 5'11" middle distance and distance runner who currently competes in both cross country and track and field for Ankeny High School. A four-year letter winner in cross country, Squires helped lead Ankeny to a pair of podium finishes (top 3) at the state cross country championship. He was part of teams that won both the conference and district titles in 2023 and earned academic all-state honors last fall. In track, Squires is a three-time state qualifier heading into his fourth and final season this spring. He placed 12th at the state meet in the 800m and helped lead Ankeny to two podium finishes at the state meet. Squires has qualified for the Drake Relays two years and also competed at both the AAU track nationals and the USATF national meet qualifier.
"I am excited to welcome Abel to our Defenders program," said Dordt University Head Cross Country Coach Nate Wolf. "He is a talented runner who has been a part of tremendous success at Ankeny. Abel's work ethic and ability will allow him to transition quickly to college running and will allow him to impact our program immediately. Additionally, he is a well-rounded student whose faith is important to him and who will have an impact across Dordt's campus. I look forward to working with Abel over the next four years."
Squires has personal bests of 1:56 in the 800m, 4:31 in the 1600m, 53.41 in the 400m and 16:27 in the 5000m. He plans to study exercise science at Dordt and is the son of Travis and Angela.
"I was searching for a college where I could be pushed to excel in academics, athletics and in my spiritual walk," stated Squires. "After visiting Dordt and getting to know the people on campus, I was convinced that Dordt was the place for me. It's a place where I feel like I can succeed but can also push others to succeed. I felt welcomed on my visit and am excited to be a Defender."
Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, is a comprehensive Christian college rooted in the Reformed tradition. The Defender athletic program is a part of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC), American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) and the Mid-American Collegiate Hockey Association (MACHA).
U.S. News & World Report, Money Magazine, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review all list Dordt on their best colleges lists. Dordt is home to approximately 1,500 students.
