The Dordt University women's track and field team delivered a commanding performance at the Dordt Open on Saturday, winning 12 events on the Holwerda Family Indoor Track.
Two Defenders punched their tickets to nationals with NAIA provisional marks. Addy Liston opened the day with a statement win in the 1000m, clocking an NAIA 'B' standard time of 2:57.99, the third-fastest in program history. The freshman surged ahead with two laps remaining and never looked back.
In the field events, Makenna Walhof shattered her own school record in the weight throw, launching 17.11m (56-01.75) on her sixth and final attempt. Walhof, who set the previous record at the SDSU Holiday Invite, now owns back-to-back record-breaking performances.
The Defenders dominated the track from 400m to 3000m, sweeping every mid-distance and distance race:
- Shelby Buwalda led a 1-2 finish in the 400m (59.01), edging teammate Kaitlyn Wercinski (59.74).
- Arielle DeYoung claimed the 600m in 1:40.63 after a thrilling final lap.
- Elizabeth Hoogland earned her first career win in the 800m (2:25.85), making a decisive move in the closing meters.
- Joy Koole captured the mile in 5:10.9, outkicking teammate Courtney Sporrer (5:11.5) in a dramatic finish.
- Jeni Burtis took the longest race of the day, the 3000m, in 10:30.6, leading six Defenders in the top 10.
Field events added four more victories:
Dordt capped the day with relay dominance:
Defender Winners (12):
- Running Events (6):
- Field Events (4):
- Relays (2):
National Qualifiers (2):
School Record (1):
All-Time Top 10 Marks / Times (8):
Times / Marks in the NAIA Top 10 (6):
Personal Bests (15):
Defenders With Top 10 Finish (54):
- High Jump:
- Long Jump:
- Pole Vault:
- Shot Put:
- Weight Throw:
- 60m:
- 60m Hurdles:
- 200m:
- 400m:
- 600m:
- 800m:
- 1000m:
- Mile:
- 3000m:
- 4x200 Relay:
- 1st - 1:48.88 (Grau, Vander Kooy, Altena, Dekkers)
- 4th - 1:54.72
- 5th: 1:55.5
- 4x400 Relay:
- 1st - 4:02.6 (Wercinski, Davis, DeYoung, Buwalda
- 3rd - 4:20.6
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