Sioux Center, Iowa — The Dordt University cross country and track and field programs earned a top 10 ranking in the updated USTFCCCA Program of the Year standings released earlier this week.
Both the Defender women’s and men’s programs are sixth in the NAIA after the second of three seasons (cross country, indoor track and field). The final ranking and announcement of the NAIA Program of the Year will be released after the outdoor track and field championships in late May.
In order to be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for each of the NCAA Championships. Scoring is based on the team’s finish at each NCAA Championship in cross country, indoor track & field and outdoor track & field (i.e. 1st = 1 point, 2nd = 2 points … 31st = 31 points) with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award winner. Ties among schools split points for positions taken.
The women’s program currently totals 22.5 points with an eighth place finish at the cross country championships last fall and a 14th place showing at the NAIA Indoor Championship earlier this month.
The Defender men’s program sits with 19 points and is just one point in back of Huntington (Ind.) for a top five spot. Dordt placed eighth in the cross country championship and 10th at the indoor track and field championships.
Dordt is the highest rated team from the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and is one of three teams from the entire NAIA to have both programs with a top 10 ranking (Milligan, St.Francis).
The Dordt track and field teams turned in eight All-American performances from the indoor championship, highlighted by the women’s 4×800 relay that captured the national title. Anmarie Stuit and Emilee Heynen both claimed All-American honors in the 600m as did the Defenders 4×400 relay. Payton Mauldin and Cole Zevenbergen (600m), Jebadiah Merkle (800m) and the 4×800 relay took home All-American honors for the men’s team.
The Defenders open the outdoor track and field season at their home meet, on April 2.
