For Dordt track and field coach Craig Heynen, Saturday's GPAC Indoor Championship wasn't defined by a single event, a single athlete, or even a single moment.

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It was defined by years of steady progress—and a breakthrough that had been building.

When the final points were tallied, the Defender women stood alone at the top of the conference for the first time in program history, edging perennial power Doane by a single point. The men matched the achievement with a strong runner-up finish, continuing a streak of conference excellence that has become a hallmark of the program.

"It was pretty special to be able to win a conference championship for the women because it has not happened as long as we've been in the GPAC," Heynen said. "We've been close a couple times, but just never quite been able to pull it off. So it's kind of a big deal for us."

The margin was razor-thin, and Heynen knew from the outset the meet would come down to the smallest details.

"When you're at a meet like that and you know there's a chance for it to be really close, every point counts," he said. "There were definitely some events where we felt like we could finish higher than our rankings. And when that happens—when you score points where you maybe weren't supposed to—that makes a difference."

Dordt entered the meet confident in its strength in distance events, particularly races from the 600 meters and up. That advantage helped anchor the team throughout the day, but the championship was far from secure.

Throws proved to be an early turning point, as Dordt athletes exceeded expectations and captured key victories.

"We knew Fran and Makenna could place high in the shot and the weight," Heynen said. "But they both ended up winning those events and placing above Doane's athletes. That makes a difference."

Still, as the meet wore on and point totals fluctuated, Heynen wasn't convinced the Defenders would emerge on top.

"I'll be honest, later in the afternoon before the 3,000 meters, I wasn't really thinking we were going to pull it off," he said. "I thought it was going to be close, but maybe we'd come up a little short."

Instead, Dordt surged.

The Defenders gained valuable points in unexpected places—including the 200 meters, where two Dordt runners placed despite not being projected scorers. Then came the 3,000 meters, where strategic lineup decisions paid off and dramatically shifted the team standings.

By the time the meet reached its final event—the 4x400 relay—Dordt had a narrow lead but needed to finish at least second to secure the title.

One of Heynen's athletes approached him with a simple question.

"Shelby Buwalda came up to me and said, 'What do we have to do?'" Heynen recalled. "I told her at least second—we've got to get second.'"

Dordt delivered exactly what it needed, finishing second to clinch the championship.

For Heynen, the victory represented more than just a trophy. It validated a long-term vision that began nearly two decades ago when he and assistant coach Nate Wolf began reshaping the program's identity.

"We had conversations about how we could get the program to be competitive in our conference," Heynen said. "We decided to really focus on the distance and mid-distance events because we felt like that was a spot where we could build something."

The strategy wasn't about dominating every event. Instead, it was about maximizing strengths while finding ways to collect critical points elsewhere.

"You can't do it in track and field without balance," Heynen said. "Even if you're not dominant in certain events, if you can squeak out some points in the throws, the jumps, or sprint events, that gives you a chance."

Over time, that approach transformed Dordt into one of the conference's most consistent contenders. The Defender men have captured multiple conference titles and routinely finish near the top of the standings. Now, the women have joined them.

"I think we can view Dordt as a track and field school at this point," Heynen said. "To be competing with programs that have such strong traditions, year after year, is a big accomplishment."

Despite the historic achievement, Heynen's perspective remains grounded in the process rather than the result.

"I told the team before the meet that I wasn't really concerned about where we finished," he said. "We just wanted to go out and do the best we could and have a good day."

That philosophy helped the team perform freely, without the pressure of chasing a specific outcome.

"To win a championship is super fun," Heynen said. "But there are so many places where one point can go either way. You can win by one point, or lose by one point, and it doesn't necessarily mean you had a better or worse day."

Still, he recognizes the psychological significance of breaking through.

"Sometimes winning that first championship is a barrier," he said. "And we have a pretty young team. I don't think this is going to be the last championship in the next few years."

Central to Dordt's rise has been recruiting athletes who align with the program's academic and cultural values.

"We look for athletes who will be good fits in our program," Heynen said. "Academics are absolutely the priority. That's why they're here. And we want athletes who are committed to that, and who want to be part of the experience we offer and what it means to compete as a Christian athlete."

That approach has attracted athletes who value both competitive success and personal development, helping sustain the program's growth.

"I'm almost amazed at how many people are interested in being part of our program," Heynen said.

With the conference meet complete, Dordt now turns its attention to the NAIA National Championships, where the Defenders will send a large and talented group of qualifiers.

The women will compete with nearly a dozen individual qualifiers, along with relay teams, while the men will be represented by seven or eight individual athletes and multiple relays.

Heynen believes his team is ready.

"We have a really good group," he said. "We've competed well at high-level meets this year, and I'm confident they're going to have their best performances of the season."

The experience gained from the conference championship—particularly the pressure of a one-point victory—could prove invaluable.

And for Heynen, regardless of what happens next, Saturday's breakthrough already represents something lasting.

"I'm just happy for them," Heynen said. "They earned it."