For Jessica Opfer, the journey to becoming one of Dordt's most dependable distance runners didn't begin with childhood dreams of cross country glory. It started reluctantly, with encouragement from her mom, a Couch-to-5K plan, and uncertainty about whether she even belonged in the sport.

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Now, four years later, the senior from Hartington, Nebraska, leaves behind a legacy defined by perseverance, growth, and belief—both in herself and in the team that helped shape her.

"I had never heard of Dordt when I was looking at colleges," Opfer said. "I started running distance my junior year and wasn't sure if I'd be able to run in college. I didn't think my times were that great. But I reached out, and from there I ultimately decided on Dordt."

Her path to distance running was anything but typical.

Through junior high and early high school, Opfer was a multi-sport athlete focused on volleyball, basketball, and track—but as a sprinter. She long jumped and even ran on her high school's varsity 4x100 relay team as a freshman. Distance running was never part of the plan.

"My mom was always encouraging me to try cross country," Opfer said. "And I was like, 'No, I'm a volleyball player. I'm a sprinter. I'm not a distance runner.'"

A series of health challenges changed her trajectory. After being hospitalized and sidelined from volleyball and basketball, Opfer looked for a way back into athletics. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted normal training, her mom once again encouraged her to give cross country a chance.

Together, they followed a Couch-to-5K plan that summer.

"We'd walk, we'd jog, and build up slowly," Opfer said. "My first meet was super hot, I had terrible blisters, and it was honestly not a great experience. But after that, I was like, this is for me."

Even then, she had no idea how far the sport would take her.

When Opfer arrived at Dordt, she had never run more than four miles continuously and rarely exceeded 15 miles per week in high school. She didn't train with mileage goals or use a running watch. College training was a completely new world.

"My freshman summer, every week I was running the longest run I'd ever done," Opfer said. "Now I run 45 miles a week. That's crazy to think about."

That progression didn't happen overnight. It required patience, trust in the coaching staff, and belief that she could develop beyond her late start.

Under the guidance of Dordt's coaches and alongside a close-knit group of teammates, Opfer steadily improved year after year. The runner who once doubted whether she belonged in college athletics became a key contributor on one of the program's most successful teams.

This winter, she played a pivotal role in helping Dordt capture its first Great Plains Athletic Conference Women's Indoor Track and Field Championship. Opfer placed second in the 5,000 meters and followed that performance with an eighth-place finish in the 3,000 meters just hours later—providing critical points in a meet decided by a single point.

It was the first time in her career she had attempted the demanding 5K-3K double.

"I just wanted to place and do what I could for the team," Opfer said. "I knew it would hurt, but I also knew I had to keep pushing."

That mindset reflects how far she has come—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally.

"If you knew me as a freshman and knew me now, I'm a completely different person," Opfer said. "I've grown in my faith. I've grown in my confidence. Being part of this team has been extremely transformative."

She credits the team culture as one of the most impactful aspects of her Dordt experience.

"Our team genuinely cares for each other," Opfer said. "We want the best for each other, even though we're competing. We push each other and make each other better. That's something special."

That support system helped Opfer overcome injuries, setbacks, and the normal challenges of college athletics. It also helped her develop into a leader who understands the value of consistency and perseverance.

Now, as she enters her final outdoor season, Opfer reflects on a journey that began with uncertainty but ends with confidence.

"It's exciting and nerve-racking," Opfer said of her final semester. "But I'm ready."

Her story stands as a reminder that success doesn't require a perfect starting point. Sometimes, it begins with simply taking the first step—even if that step comes later than most.