The Dordt University men's cross country team captured its second consecutive team title as the Defenders won the Wildcat Classic, a meet hosted by Wayne State College in Wayne, Neb. The 8000m race took place at the Wayne Country Club.
The Defenders, who have won both meets this season, totaled 27 points and had six runners finish in the top 10. Wayne State, the host team, placed second in the team standings with 60 points, followed by Mount Marty (79pts), Southwest Minnesota State (105pts) and the Viking Distance Project (108pts).
Aidan Vorster was the top Defender finisher, placing second overall with an 8K time of 26:45, 12 seconds in back of the individual champion.
Tage Hulstein recorded his first ever top five finish, completing the course in fourth place and in a time of 27:20. Three Dordt runners,
Josiah Wittenberg,
Sam May and
Trace Obbink, came across the finish line within five seconds of each other and placed 6th - 8th.
Owen Krabill was the final Dordt runner in the top 10, placing 10th overall with a time of 28:02.
"The men had a strong day on the toughest course they will race this season," stated Dordt University Head Coach Nate Wolf. "Josiah did an outstanding job leading the pack of men through the first 2/3 of the race. Several men moved very well through the middle of the race to position themselves well at the finish. Trace Obbink had an outstanding race with the freshman running into our top five, working very well with Sam May over the full 8,000m. We are excited to race at home again in two weeks."
Defender Notes:
- Dordt's 1-5 split (difference between 1st and 5th place runner): 61 seconds
- Dordt's 1-7 split: 1:20 seconds
- six Defenders placed in the top 10; 15 Dordt runners finished in the top 25
- five Dordt runners broke 27 minutes
- Trace Obbink ran a personal-best time
- 22 Dordt runners turned in their best finish
- seven Defenders ran a faster time than last year on this course (not all ran last year)
- this was Vorster's second top 10 finish this season and a team-leading eighth for his career
- Hulstein has recorded back-to-back top 10 finishes this season and three for his career
- this was the best ever finish for Wittenberg, who recorded his first top 10 finish
- this was May's first top 10 and best-ever finish
- this was also Krabill's first top 10 finish
