The Event

• The No.9 Dordt University women'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 9am (note the time change; was scheduled for 10am)

Meet Information

• Distance: 5000m
• 9am start 
• Defenders Cross Country Course
• Course Map / Meet Info
• Entry List |
• Watch (Dordt Media Network)
• Live Results (Dakota Timing)

Teams Competing

• 7 teams / 86 runners are scheduled to compete

  • College of Saint Mary (GPAC)
  • Dakota State (Frontier)
  • Dakota Wesleyan (GPAC)
  • Dordt (GPAC)
  • Mount Marty (GPAC)
  • Northwestern (GPAC)
  • Trinty Bible (Northern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference - NCCAA)

Defender Notes

• GPAC Success
  • Dordt has won five consecutive GPAC titles (2020-24), all under the direction of current head coach Nate Wolf
  • the Defenders have won seven of the last eight, 11 of the last 13, conference titles
• A Look back 2024
  • the Defenders won the GPAC championship with 18 points, their best score ever posted at the conference championship 
    • this was the second lowest score recorded by any team at the GPAC Championship (Concordia 15pts - 2004)
    • nine Dordt runners finished among the top 15 individuals and earned all-conference honors, led by GPAC Champion and Conference Runner-of-the-Year Corinne Braun
    • all-conference runners from 2024 (bold denotes returner):
      • Corinne Braun- 1st
      • Isabella Webb - 2nd
      • Jaci Burtis - 4th
      • Hannah Thong - 5th
      • Jeni Burtis - 6th
      • Courtney Joiner - 10th
      • Jessica Opfer - 13th
      • Jada Koerner - 14th
      • Olivia Hoogland - 15th
  • Head Coach Nate Wolf was named GPAC Coach of the Year in 2024
  • Dordt placed 11th last season at the NAIA National Championship
  • the Defenders won four of its six meets
  • Dordt placed in the top five in five meets
  • the Defenders were ranked 8th in the final NAIA Coaches' poll
  • 2024 Results | 
• National Success
  • Dordt has qualified for the NAIA National Championship 13 consecutive seasons (since 2011)
  • the Defenders finished among the top 10 at the NAIA National Championship eight times, including four of the last five seasons
• In the Rankings
  • the Defenders begin the season ranked ninth in the NAIA preseason coaches' poll, the sixth consecutive year they have opened the year ranked in the top 10
  • Dordt has appeared in the preseason coaches' poll every season since 2011
  • the Defenders have been ranked in the top 25 in 97 consecutive polls, the longest current streak in the NAIA
    • during this streak, Dordt has been ranked in the top 10 67 times
  • Dordt was picked to win the conference title based on the GPAC preseason coaches' poll released earlier this season
• About 2025:
  • the Defenders return their top 10 runners and a total of 29 runners from last year
  • Roster Notes:
    • 44 total runners
      • 5 seniors
      • 12 juniors
      • 14 sophomores
      • 13 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 the GPAC Coach of the Year in 2024, the 8th time he earned the league's top honor
      • 1st season - 2015
    • Jesse Veenstra and Emilee Heynen round out the Defenders coaching staff