The Event

• the 18th-ranked Dordt University men's cross country team is scheduled to compete this weekend in its second of three home meets, the Holiday Inn Express Classic
• due to the size of the meet, there will be two 6K races, the Gold Division (10:25am) and the Black Division (11:40am)
• the gold division will feature no more than the top 10 runners from each of the teams competing; the black division race will feature all of the other runners from the teams
• both races will take place on the Defenders Cross Country Course on the campus of Dordt University

Meet Information

• Distance: 8000m
• 10:25am start (Gold) / 11:40am (Black)
• Defenders Cross Country Course (on campus)
• Course Map
• Entry List |
• Live Results (Dakota Timing)

Teams Competing

• 15 teams / 229 runners are scheduled to compete (NAIA unless noted)
  • (RV) Benedictine 
  • Buena Vista (NCAA D-III)
  • Concordia
  • Dakota State
  • (RV) Doane
  • #18 Dordt
  • Midland
  • Morningside
  • Mount Marty
  • Northwestern
  • South Dakota Tech (NCAA D-II)
  • Southwest Minnesota State (NCAA D-II)
  • University of Sioux Falls (NCAA D-II)
  • Waldorf
  • Wayne State (NCAA D-II)

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
  • Dordt continues to move up in the NAIA Coaches' poll as the Defenders are 18th in the Oct.8 rating
  • the Defenders accounted for 259 points, six in back of #17 Rio Grande (Ohio)
  • Dordt is one of two teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) recognized in the top 25 or earning votes
    • Dordt - #18
    • Doane - RV
  • the Defenders began the season receiving votes and then moved into the top 25 (22) last time
  • Dordt has been ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes in 54 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 third meet of the regular season for the Defenders and their second with the full 8K distance
    • following this weekend's competition, Dordt will have one final "tune-up" meet prior to the postseason and the GPAC Championship
    • Dordt will compete in the Blazing Tiger Classic at Mahoney State Park on Oct.24
    • 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 both meets this season
  • they won their home meet on Sept.12 with a perfect score (15)
  • last time out, the Defenders placed fifth out of 19 teams at the Augustana Invitational
  • Hudson Hamilton has been the Defenders No.1 runner in both meets, earning GPAC Runner of the Week honors with his performance at the Sunflower Open
  • Trace Obbink and Jackson Prins have been the No.2 and No.3 runners in the prior two meets
  • Jamison Velzke has been among the Defenders top five in both meets
  • Hamilton and Obbink both have three, career top 10's