Day one is complete at the 2026 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships, and the Dordt University track and field teams saw strong performances at the Alachua County Sports and Events Center in Gainesville, Florida.
The Defender women highlighted the opening day by qualifying all three of their relays for Friday’s finals, while the Dordt men advanced one relay to the championship round.
Dordt Women
The Dordt 4×800 relay was the first to punch its ticket to the finals, winning the third heat in dramatic come-from-behind fashion. Entering the final carry in third place and trailing both Life (Ga.) and College of Saint Mary (Neb.), Corinne Braun surged past both teams over the final 300 meters to secure the victory.
The Defenders finished with the fourth-fastest time overall at 9:08.76, nearly seven seconds faster than their qualifying mark entering the championships. The time ranks fourth-fastest in program history. The relay consisted of Arielle DeYoung, Elizabeth Hoogland, Addi Liston, and Braun.
Dordt’s 4×400 relay also qualified for the finals, earning one of four at-large spots in the eight-team championship field. The Defenders finished second to Life (Ga.) in the fourth heat but posted the seventh-fastest time overall at 3:47.73 to advance.
The team of Anna Heynen, Kaitlyn Wercinski, Ada Dekkers, and Shelby Buwalda set the school record once again, finishing more than two seconds faster than their previous best.
The Defenders secured their third finals qualification of the day in the distance medley relay. Dordt finished second in the second heat as Addy Crow, Ayda Den Herder, Olivia Hoogland, and Joy Koole posted a time of 12:01.75.
The time ranks second-fastest in school history and is just over a second faster than the team’s qualifying time entering the meet. Dordt, seeded sixth entering the championships, recorded the third-fastest overall time behind Milligan (Tenn.) and Taylor (Ind.).
Dordt Men
The Dordt men advanced their 4×800 relay to the finals after entering the championships seeded 12th. The Defenders finished second to Cornerstone (Mich.) in the third heat and held off Cumberlands (Ky.) by .07 seconds to secure a spot in Friday’s championship race.
Dordt posted the sixth-fastest time overall at 7:38.69, nearly four seconds faster than its qualifying mark and the fifth-fastest time in program history. The relay included Luke Swanson, Anderson Schuttinga, Jamison Velzke, and Kaden Van Wyngarden, with Van Wyngarden running the fastest final 200-meter split among the eight teams to qualify for the finals.
The Defenders narrowly missed qualifying for the finals in the 4×400 relay, finishing third in their heat with a time of 3:14.58. Dordt placed behind Bismarck State (N.D.) and St. Thomas (Fla.) and missed advancing by .19 seconds. The time ranks fourth-fastest in program history. Relay members were Levi Schelhaas, Jacob Schmoll, Bennett Wassenaar, and Isaac Davelaar.
In the distance medley relay, Dordt finished 19th in the prelims and did not advance. The team of Hudson Hamilton, Isaiah Johnson, Sam May, and Jackson Prins posted a time of 10:20.13, which ranks 10th all-time in program history.
Friday Events for Dordt (CST)
Women
Addy Crow – Mile: 10:45 a.m.
Makenna Walhof / Fran Travis – Weight Throw: 11:00 a.m.
Shelby Buwalda / Kaitlyn Wercinski – 600m: 12:45 p.m.
Corinne Braun / Addi Liston – 1000m: 2:45 p.m.
Jeni Burtis / Joy Koole / Hannah Thong – 3000m: 3:15 p.m.
4×800 Relay Final – 5:10 p.m.
Men
Kaden Van Wyngarden – Mile: 11:05 a.m.
Levi Schelhaas – 400m: 12:25 p.m.
Isaac Davelaar / Bennett Wassenaar – 600m: 1:15 p.m.
Micah Schaap – Long Jump: 2:00 p.m.
4×800 Relay Final – 5:25 p.m.
