The Dordt University men's and women's track and field teams were named to the NAIA All-Academic team list for the 2022 Indoor / Outdoor seasons by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches' Association (USTFCCCA).

The Defender women, under the direction of Head Coach Craig Heynen, accumulated a team GPA of 3.71 on a 4.0 scale, tied for the second highest among all NAIA teams.

Dordt is one of seven teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) to receive the academic honor.

The Defender men, under the direction of Head Coach Craig Heynen, accumulated a team GPA of 3.42 on a 4.0 scale, ninth best among the full scope of NAIA teams.

Dordt is one of seven teams from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) to receive the academic honor.

Criteria for a team to be named an NAIA All-Academic:

The cumulative GPA (not 2021-22 academic year, not semester) for all student-athletes on the institution’s NCAA Squad List for Indoor and/or Outdoor Track and Field must be 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale, certifiable by the institution’s registrar. Institutions utilizing a different GPA scale must convert the GPA to a 4.0 scale using the standard conversion method [GPA/Scale x 4.0].

The Dordt women finished third in both the GPAC Indoor and Outdoor Championships last spring and posted a top 20 finish at both NAIA Championships.

The Defender men finished 10th at both the NAIA Indoor and Outdoor National Championships last spring. They placed second in both GPAC Championships.

11 members of the Dordt University women's track and field team earned 2022 NAIA All-Academic athlete recognition awarded by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Dordt tied for the sixth most honorees on the 2022 NAIA list and second most of the team in the Great Plains Athletic Conference.

Name Event(s) at Nationals Academic Major

Emma Bakker 400m, 4x400m Architectural Design

Cori De Jong High Jump Nursing

Greichaly Ellens Half Marathon Elementary Education

Emilee Heynen 600m, 4x800, 4x400 Social Work

Anika Homan 3K Mathematics

Jessica Kampman 3K Exercise Science

Mika Kooistra 600m, 4x400, 4x800 Environmental Studies

Anmarie Stuit 600m, 4x400, 4x800 Elementary Education

Bethany Ten Haken 800m, 4x800 Elementary Education

Brenna Tolkamp Half Marathon Social Work

Eden Winslow 10K Engineering

17 members of the Dordt University men's track and field team earned 2022 NAIA All-Academic athlete recognition awarded by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

Dordt had the highest number of athletes from any NAIA team earn the academic honor; Saint Mary's (Kan.) had the second most with 15. Over 300 athletes from the NAIA were recognized.

Athlete Event at Nationals Academic Major

Joe Anderson Mile, 1500m, DMR Engineering

Devin Bos 4x400 Engineering

Micah Brands 4x400 Accounting

Grant Brouwer DMR, High Jump Biology

Brooks DeWaard Half Marathon Construction Management

Trey Engen 1000m, 4x800 Political Science

Payton Mauldin 600m, 800m, 4x800 English

Jebadiah Merkle 800m, 4x800 Engineering

Thaniel Schroeder Steeplechase Engineering

Peter Shippy Steeplechase Computer Science

Eric Steiger 3000m, DMR, Steeplechase Engineering

Ethan Summerhays 10,000m Prearchitectural Design

Davis Tebben Dordt (Iowa) Engineering

Bailey Vander Griend Half Marathon Statistics/Computer Science

Nicolas Veldhorst Steeplechase Business Administration/ Psychology

Luke Wagner 4x400 Biology

Cole Zevenbergen 600m, 4x800, 4x400, DMR History

To be eligible for the postseason honor, athletes must meet the following criteria:

Cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher on a 4.0 scale,

Athletic criteria for the award can be met in the indoor season:

For the indoor season: must have achieved an “A” or “B” standard in a Championship event, certifiable by their place on the NAIA descending order lists on TFRRS for Indoor Track & Field.

For the outdoor season: must have achieved an “A” or “B” standard in a Championship event, certifiable by their place on the NAIA descending order lists on TFRRS for Outdoor Track & Field.

Must have completed at least two (2) semesters or three (3) quarters at the certifying institution.