The Dordt University women's track and field team earned a spot in the top five in the second edition of the NAIA / USTFCCCA Rankings released today by the national office. (USTFCCCA - United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association)

• NAIA Ratings Release | Scoring Breakdown - Ranking #2

Notes:

• this is the second of seven national ratings that the USTFCCCA will release during the 2026 indoor season
• the final poll will be announced on Sunday, March 8, following the conclusion of the NAIA Indoor National Championships
• the Defenders moved up three spots to No.3 after beginning the year ranked sixth
• this is the highest national ranking by the Defender women's team in program history
• Dordt is one of four teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) recognized in the top 25
  • Doane - #2
  • Dordt - #3
  • College of Saint Mary - #14
  • Concordia - #16
• the Defenders accounted for 135 points, four more than No.4 Marian (Ind.)
  • Dordt has 74.78 points in individual events (27) and 60.32 points in relays (3)
• Central Methodist (Mo.) is ranked #1 with 186.87 points, followed by Doane with 165.16
• two Defender entries, the 4x800 relay and the distance medley, are ranked No.1
• seven entries own a top 10 ranking
• all three relays are ranked in the top 10
• five field events earned points and are ranked in the NAIA's top 35
• 22 running events earned points and are ranked in the the NAIA's top 35
• Shelby Buwalda has points in six events (three individual, three relays)
• Corinne Braun and Addy Liston account for points in four events
• Dordt has qualified six entries for the NAIA Indoor National Championships (hitting the 'A' or 'B' standard)
  • Shelby Buwalda (2) - 600m, 800m
  • Arielle DeYoung - 800m
  • Corinne Braun - 1000m
  • Addy Liston - 1000m
  • Addy Crow - Mile
  • Fran Travis (2) - Shot Put, Weight Throw
  • Makenna Walhof - Weight Throw
  • 4x400 Relay - Den Herder, Wercinski, Dekkers, Buwalda
  • 4x800 Relay - DeYoung, Buwalda, DeYoung, Braun
  • DMR - Liston, Buwalda, DeYoung, Braun
• Defenders in the Rankings (30)
  • 4x800 Relay - (1st) DeYoung, Buwalda, DeYoung, Braun
  • Distance Medley - (1st) Liston, Buwalda, DeYoung, Braun
  • Addy Liston (4th) - 1000m
  • Corinne Braun (5th) - 1000m
  • 4x400 Relay (5th) Den Herder, Wercinski, Dekkers, Buwalda
  • Addy Crow (7th) - Mile
  • Makenna Walhof (10th) - Weight Throw
  • Fran Travis (11th) - Shot Put
  • Joy Koole (12th) - 3000m
  • Shelby Buwalda (12th) - 600m
  • Joy Koole (12th) - Mile
  • Shelby Buwalda (13th) - 800m
  • Fran Travis (15th) - Weight Throw
  • Arielle DeYoung (16th) - 800m
  • Ada Smies (17th) - High Jump
  • Addy Crow (18th) - 1000m
  • Corinne Braun (21st) - 3000m
  • Addy Liston (22nd) - 800m
  • Olivia Hoogland (25th) - 1000m
  • Addy Crow (25th) - 3000m
  • Addy Liston (25th) - Mile
  • Kaitlyn Wercinski (28th) - 400m
  • Arielle DeYoung (28th) - 600m
  • Jessica Opfer (29th) - 5000m
  • Olivia Hoogland (29th) - Mile
  • Jeni Burtis (30th) - 3000m
  • Jada Koerner (30th) - 5000m
  • Kaitlyn Wercinski (30th) - 600m
  • Jenny Lumkes (31st) - Pentathlon
  • Shelby Buwalda (35th) - 400m