Kaden Van Wyngarden and the Defenders 4x800 relay qualified for finals on day one of the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships held at the Wildcat Stadium in Marion, Ind. The 3-day championship is hosted by Indiana Wesleyan.
Competing in his first NAIA Track and Field National Championship, Van Wyngarden secured a spot in the 1500m final with his finish this afternoon. Van Wyngarden, seeded 18th in the field of 20, ran a 56.6 split and moved up four spots over the final 400m to place third in heat two with a time of 3:57.40. The sophomore turned in the third fastest time overall and only .18 of a second in back of the No.1 time by Tristan Trevion (Marian-Ind.). Van Wyngarden moved up a total of six places throughout the race after being in ninth place after the opening 300m.
Seeded 12th among 31 teams, the Defenders 4x800 relay qualified for Thursday's final with the sixth fastest time in today's prelim. The Defenders team of
Luke Swanson,
Trace Obbink,
Sam May and
Isaac Davelaar placed second in heat four with a time of 7:39.29, within a half second of the next three teams (Marian, Milligan and Spring Arbor). Dordt made up four places over the final two carries behind a 1:54 split by May and a 1:51 split from Davelaar.
The Defenders 4x100 relay posted the 10th fastest time overall and just missed out qualifying for Friday's final by .09 of a second. Dordt placed second behind Cumberlands (Ky.) in heat four with a time of 40.69, .09 behind Madonna (Mich.), the ninth and final team to earn a spot in the final. Defender relay members were
Levi Schelhaas,
Logan Franken,
Ryan Schober and
Jacob Schmoll.
Day One Results:
- Kaden Van Wyngarden - 1500m
- 3rd fastest time overall: 3:57.4
- qualifies for Friday's final
- placed third in heat two
- 4x100 Relay
- 4x800 Relay
Thursday Schedule:
- 4x800 Relay Final: 5:30pm (CST)
- 4x400 Relay prelim: 7:45pm (CST)
