Luke Swanson and Truman Johnson closed out the Dordt University men's cross country season at the 2025 NAIA National Championship held this morning at the Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. 

• Results | Results (PDF)

Swanson and Johnson both finished in the top half of the field, placing 67th and 120th, respectively. 

Swanson, competing in his third consecutive NAIA National Championship and first on this course, turned in his best finish at the championship and completed the 8K course in 25:35.6. The senior's previous best placement at nationals was 125th in 2023 at Fort Vancouver, Washington. Swanson was in 54th place at the 3000m mark, and, after dropping a few spots over the next 1000m, moved back up to 56th by the 6K. He closed out the race with consecutive 3:15 splits in the final 2000m for a 67th place finish. Swanson's time was his second-best of the season.

Johnson, competing in his first NAIA National Championship race, posted an 8K time of 26:06 and placed 120th overall. Johnson was in 51st place after recording his fastest 1000m split (2:42) at the 3K mark. The sophomore closed out the race with a 3:28 split over the final 1000m.

Notes:

• the 2025 championship field was comprised of 36 complete teams and 323 runners that finished
• Indiana Wesleyan won the team title with 117 points, 11 in front of runner-up The Master's (Calif.)
• Jack Anderson (The Master's) was the individual champion with a time of 24:15, just two seconds ahead of runner-up Mason Weisberger (Southern Oregon)
• this was the 29th season the Defenders competed, as a team or sent an individual, at the NAIA Cross Country Championship
• the Defenders have sent their team or individuals to compete at nationals 10 straight years 
  • last time missed: 2015
• Swanson recorded his best finish and fastest time ever in his three championship appearances
  • 2023 - 125th (26:28)
  • 2024 - 289th (27:03)
• this concludes the Defenders season