The Dordt University women's cross country team finished fifth at the 39th annual Roy Griak Invitational held today at the Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights, Minn.
Competing in the Suzy Wilson Women's Maroon 6K race against NCAA D-II, D-III, NAIA and JUCO teams, the ninth-ranked Defenders were the top NAIA finisher and posted their best-ever finish at the Griak Invite in program history. Dordt totaled 137 points, trailing only four NCAA D-II teams; #22 Winona State, #13 Minnesota State, Northern Michigan and Minnesota-Duluth. Winona State took home the team championship with 27 points.
- "This was an exciting day for our women's team," said Dordt University Head Coach Nate Wolf. "They showed tremendous courage and strength throughout the race and it resulted the highest-ever finish by the Defender women."
Dordt had all five of its scorers finish among the top 40, led by Sophomore
Hannah Thong who placed 15th with a 6K time of 23:41.
Addy Crow was the next Dordt runner to cross the finish line, doing so in 21st place with a time of 23:55, six seconds off her personal-best 6K time. The next three Dordt runners,
Jaci Burtis,
Isabella Webb and
Jada Koerner, finished within six places of each other and separated by just six seconds. Burtis placed 31st (24:26), followed by Webb (33rd - 24:26) and Koerner (37th - 24:32).
"Hannah led the women's team and Addy ran an incredible last 3,000m to provide a strong number two for us. Jaci and Isabella got out well and were able to hold their positions, pressing strongly through the middle kilometers of the race. Jada, like Addy, showed tremendous strength, moving well the last half of the race."
Defender Notes:
- total time: 2:01:01
- average 6K time: 24:12
- 1-5 split: 0:51
- 1-7 split: 1:34
- 24 teams and 266 runners completed today's race
- this was the third top 25 finish for Crow in her career
- Thong has six top 25 finishes in her Defenders career
Up Next:
- a contingent of Defender runners, who did not compete at the Griak Invite, will compete at the Briar Cliff Invite on Oct.4
