Day one is complete at the 2026 NAIA Women's Track and Field Indoor Championships and all three Dordt relays qualified for their respective finals to highlight the first day. The 2026 championship event is held at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center in Gainesville, Fla.Â
The Defenders 4x800 relay was the first to punch their ticket into the finals by winning the third heat in dramatic, come-from-behind fashion. In third place and trailing both Life (Ga.) and College of Saint Mary (Neb.) heading into the final carry,
Corinne Braun passed both teams over the final 300m to secure the Defenders spot in Friday's final. Dordt posted the fourth best time overall (9:08.76) and ran nearly seven seconds faster than their qualifying time into the championships. Dordt's time ranks fourth fastest all-time in program history. Relay members include
Arielle DeYoung,
Elizabeth Hoogland, Addi Liston and Braun.
Dordt's 4x400 relay was the next to qualify for finals as they earned one of the four at-large spots in the eight team, championship field. Dordt finished second to Life (Ga.) in in the fourth heat but posted the seventh fastest time overall (3:47.73) to secure its spot. The Defenders team of
Anna Heynen,
Kaitlyn Wercinski,
Ada Dekkers and
Shelby Buwalda set the school record once again and ran over two seconds faster than their previous best.Â
The Defenders qualified their third and final event for the finals on day one with a second place finish in the second heat of the distance medley. Dordt's team of
Addy Crow,
Ayda Den Herder,
Olivia Hoogland and
Joy Koole completed the 3000m medley in 12:01.75, second fastest all-time at Dordt and just over a second better than its qualifying time into the championship. Dordt, seeded sixth heading into the championship, finished behind Milligan (Tenn.) in its heat but turned in the third fastest time overall, trailing only Milligan and Taylor (Ind.).Â
Friday Events for the Defenders:Â
