The Dordt University men's cross country team won its home meet, the Sunflower Open, for its 2024 season debut held today on the Defenders Cross Country Course in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Competing for the first time this season, the ninth-ranked Defenders cruised to the team title with 22 points, finishing well ahead of second place Dakota State (70pts). Dordt has won three of its last five meets, dating back to the 2023 season where they won the Briar Cliff Invite and GPAC Championship.
The University of Sioux Falls (NCAA D-II) was third with 78 points, followed by Mount Marty (94pts), Morningside (119pts) and Northwestern (164pts).
"The men had a strong day. Aidan Vorster, Luke Swanson, and Tage Hulstein showed their experience as they managed a fast early pace to finish within 20 seconds of each other. Truman Johnson started his collegiate racing career with an outstanding race, moving very well the last mile to race into the top 10 overall and finish fourth for the team. It was great to be able to open our season at home and it will be fun to revisit the home course in a month at the Holiday Inn Express Classic," commented Dordt University Head Coach Nate Wolf.
Aidan Vorster completed the 8K course with a time of 25:30 and placed fourth, the seventh top 10 finish of his career.
Luke Swanson gave the Defenders a pair of runners in the top five by placing a career-best fifth place overall with a time of 25:44.
Three Defenders,
Tage Hulstein,
Truman Johnson and
Levi Landmank, also placed in the top 10 and gave Head Coach
Nate Wolf's squad five top 10 finishers. Hulstein posted his best career finish, placing seventh and completed the course in 25:50.
Truman Johnson, running in his first collegiate race, finished ninth (26:08) while Landman placed 10th, his highest career finish, with a personal best time of 26:24.
Juniors
Sam May and
Josiah Wittenberg round out the top seven for Dordt, placing 14th and 15th respectively.
Eric Steiger, an All-American for the Defenders in 2022, was the individual champion running unattached (25:09).
Dordt will next compete at the Wayne State Invite on Sept. 28.
Defender Notes:
- Dordt's 1-5 split (difference between 1st and 5th place runner): 54 seconds
- Dordt's 1-7 split: 57 seconds
- five Defenders placed in the top 10; 10 Dordt runners finished in the top 25
- eight Dordt runners broke 27 minutes
- three Defenders ran personal best times:
- eight Defenders recorded their highest finish
