The Event

• the Dordt University men's cross country team will continue its 2026 season this weekend at the Augustana Invitational
• the Defenders will run their first 8K distance of the season on Friday morning (Sept.25) at 10:15am
• the race will take place at Yankton Trails Park in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Meet Information

• Distance: 8000m
• 10:15am start 
• Yankton Trails Park
• Course Map
• Entry List |
• Live Results (Dakota Timing)

Teams Competing

• 21 teams / 335 runners are scheduled to compete
  • #14 Augustana (NCAA D-II)
  • Black Hills State (NCAA D-II)
  • Buena Vista (NCAA D-III)
  • (RV) Concordia (NAIA - GPAC)
  • Dakota State (NAIA - Frontier)
  • Dakota Wesleyan (NAIA - GPAC)
  • Dordt (NAIA - GPAC)
  • Jamestown (NCAA D-II)
  • Minnesota Moorhead (NCAA D-III)
  • Mount Marty (NAIA - GPAC)
  • Nebraska Kearney (NCAA D-II)
  • Newman (NCAA D-II)
  • (RV) Northwestern (NAIA - GPAC)
  • Rogers State (NCAA D-II)
  • Sioux Falls (NCAA D-II)
  • South Dakota State (NCAA D-I)
  • Southwest Minnesota State (NCAA D-II)
  • Trinity Bible
  • University of Mary (NCAA D-II)
  • Valley City State (NAIA)
  • #19 Washburn (NCAA D-II)
  • 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
  • after earning votes in the preseason poll, the Defenders moved up to 22nd in the latest edition of the NAIA Coaches' poll
  • the poll was released earlier this week and is the first of the regular season
  • the Defenders accounted for 197 points, 11 in back of #22 IU East
  • Dordt is one of two teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) in the top 25; one of four from the conference recognized in the top 25 or earning votes
    • Dordt - #22
    • Doane - #24
    • Northwestern, Concordia - RV
  • Dordt has been ranked in the top 25 or receiving votes in 53 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 second meet of the regular season for the Defenders and their first with the 6K distance
    • following this weekend's competition, the Defenders will have two additional meets in the regular season
    • 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
• Earlier This Year:
  • Dordt won the Sunflower Open, held on the Defenders Home Cross Course on Sept.12
  • the Defenders posted a perfect team score of 15 points, occupying the 1-5 spots in the final standings
  • Hudson Hamilton was the top collegiate runner (2nd place), followed by Jackson Prins, Trace Obbink, Bennett Visser and Jamison Velzke
  • 16 Defenders either matched or posted their best ever finish