The Event

• the Dordt University men's cross country team is set to compete in the Blazing Tiger Invite this weekend in Ashland, Neb.
• Saturday's 8K race will start at 10am
• the 19th-ranked Defenders, along with 40 other teams, will run at Mahoney State Park
• all spectators and fans need to purchase a parking pass, which will also serve as a ticket to watch the event
  • Tickets / Parking Pass
  • Meet Info

Meet Information

• Distance: 8000m
• 10am start
• Course Map |  Meet Info
• Entry List |
• Live Results (Black Squirrel Timing)

Teams Competing

• 41 teams are scheduled to compete (all from the NAIA)
• 8 teams ranked in the top 25 or earning votes are slated to compete
  • (RV) Benedictine 
  • (RV) Columbia
  • (RV) Doane
  • #19 Dordt
  • (RV) John Brown
  • (RV) MidAmerica Christian
  • #2 Southern Oregon
  • #17 Saint Mary
• 9 GPAC teams are schedule to compete:
  • Briar Cliff
  • Concordia
  • Dakota Wesleyan
  • Doane
  • Dordt
  • Hastings
  • Morningside
  • Northwestern
  • Waldorf

Defender Notes

• GPAC Success
  • the Defenders have won seven of the last eight GPAC titles (2018-24)
  • this matched the conference record for consecutive GPAC titles won and is the second most by a men's team since the GPAC began in 2000
  • Dordt has finished among the top five teams for 18 consecutive seasons
• National Success
  • the Defenders have qualified for the NAIA Championship 28 seasons (team and/or individual)
  • Dordt won the 2022 NAIA National Championship
  • Dordt finished among the top 10 at the NAIA National Championship three of the last five years
  • the Defenders did not qualify as a team last season, ending a seven-year streak
• In the Rankings
  • the Defenders dropped one spot to 19th in the latest edition of the NAIA Coaches' poll (Oct.15)
  • the Defenders accounted for 233 points, 33 behind of #18 Haskell Indian Nations (Kan.)
  • Dordt is 12 points ahead of #19 Park (Mo.) and 24 points in front of Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
  • Dordt is one of two teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) recognized in the top 25 or earning votes
    • Dordt - #19
    • Doane - RV
  • the Defenders began the season receiving votes and then moved into the top 25 (22) in the first poll of the regular season
  • Dordt has been ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes in 55 straight NAIA polls
  • 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 2026
  • the Defenders return three of their top five, seven of their top 10 runners from 2025; 35 total runners return
  • Roster Notes:
    • 47 total runners
      • 6 seniors
      • 12 juniors
      • 17 sophomores
      • 12 freshmen
  • Schedule Outlook:
    • this is the fourth and final meet of the regular season for the Defenders 
    • the GPAC Championship will be held at the Defenders home course on Nov.7
    • the NAIA Championship returns to once again to Fort Vancouver, Washington at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site on Nov.20
• Coaching Staff
  • Nate Wolf returns for his 12th season as the head of the Dordt Cross Country program
  • Wolf was named the NAIA Coach of the Year after leading the Defenders to the national title in 2022
  • Wolf has received the USTFCCCA Midwest Regional honor in four of the last five years and a total of 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
• Notes
  • Dordt has finished as the top NAIA team in all three meets this season
  • they won their home meet on Sept.12 with a perfect score (15pts)
  • last time out, the Defenders won the Holiday Inn Express Classic, held at their home course on Oct.10
  • Trace Obbink won the individual title at the Holiday Inn Express Classic, earning his first collegiate win
  • five Dordt runners are ranked in the top 10 in the current GPAC Performance List
    • Hudson Hamilton - 2nd
    • Trace Obbink - 3rd
    • Jackson Prins - 4th
    • Jamison Velzke - 6th
    • Caleb Van Beek - 9th
  • Hudson Hamilton has been the Defenders top runner in two of three meets this season
    • Hamilton has two top 10's this season, four in his career
  • Trace Obbink has been among the Defenders top three runners in all three meets
    • Obbink has two top 10's and four in his career
  • Jackson Prins has one top 10 finish this season and four top 25's in his career
  • Jamison Velzke has one top 10 finish, two in his career