The Event

• The No.18 Dordt University men's cross country team begins its 2025 season at the first of its two home meets, The Sunflower Open, held this weekend on campus.
• Race time on the Defenders Cross Country Course on Saturday, Sept.13 is set for 9:45am (note the time change; was scheduled for 10:45am)

Meet Information

• Distance: 8000m
• 9:45am start 
• Defenders Cross Country Course
• Course Map / Meet Info
• Entry List |
• Watch (Dordt Media Network)
• Live Results (Dakota Timing)

Teams Competing

• 6 teams / 98 runners are scheduled to compete
  • Dakota State (Frontier)
  • Dakota Wesleyan (GPAC)
  • Dordt (GPAC)
  • Mount Marty (GPAC)
  • Northwestern (GPAC)
  • Trinty Bible (Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference - NCCAA)

Defender Notes

• GPAC Success
  • the Defenders won their seventh consecutive GPAC title in 2024, a streak that began in 2018
  • this matches the conference record for consecutive GPAC titles won and is the second most by a men's team since the GPAC began in 2000
• A Look back 2024
  • the Defenders won the 2024 GPAC championship with 41 points, edging out Doane (45pts) 
  • four Dordt runners finished among the top 15 individuals and earned all-conference honors
    • all-conference runners from 2024 (bold denotes returner for 2025):
      • Ethan Summerhays - 3rd
      • Aidan Vorster - 7th
      • Luke Swanson - 8th
      • Tage Hulstein - 9th
      • Levi Landman - 14th
  • Head Coach Nate Wolf was named both the USTFCCCA Midwest Region and GPAC Coach of the Year in 2024
  • Dordt won four of its six meets and finished among the top three in five of six meets
  • 2024 Results | 
• National Success
  • the Defenders have qualified for the NAIA Championship 27 seasons (team and/or individual)
  • Dordt won the 2022 NAIA National Championship
  • Dordt has finished among the top 10 at the NAIA National Championship three of the last four years
  In the Rankings
  • the Defenders begin the season ranked 18th in the NAIA preseason coaches' poll
  • the Defenders have been ranked in 45 consecutive polls, dating back to the 2018 season
    • this is the 5th longest streak currently in the NAIA
  • during the streak, Dordt has been ranked among the top 10 in 24 polls
  • Dordt was picked to win the conference title based on the GPAC preseason coaches' poll released earlier this season
• About 2025:
  • the Defenders return four of its top seven and seven of its top 10 runners from 2024; 29 total runners return
  • Roster Notes:
    • 47 total runners
      • 9 seniors
      • 6 juniors
      • 13 sophomores
      • 19 freshmen
  • Schedule Outlook:
    • Dordt's schedule features five meets during the regular season, including two home events (Sept.13 and Oct.11)
    • the Defenders also will compete at the Roy Griak Invite, Briar Cliff Invite and Mount Marty Invite
    • the GPAC Championship will be held at the Mahoney State Park near Ashland, Neb. on Nov.8
    • the NAIA Championship returns to Tallahassee, Fla. and will be held at the Apalachee Regional Park on Nov.21
• Coaching Staff
  • Nate Wolf returns for his 11th season as the head of the Dordt Cross Country program
  • Wolf was named both the USTFCCCA Midwest Region and GPAC Coach of the Year in 2024
  • Wolf has received the USTFCCCA Midwest Regional honor in four of the last five years
  • Wolf is a 7x GPAC Coach of the Year
  • 1st season - 2015
  • Jesse Veenstra and Emilee Heynen round out the Defenders coaching staff