Gulf Shores, Alabama — The Dordt Defender women’s and men’s track and field teams competed at the NAIA National Championship at Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Both the women’s and men’s 4×800 teams survived the prelims to make the finals to be run on Thursday while Jacob Vander Plaats earned a spot in the finals of the 1500 to be run on Saturday. The men’s 3000 meter steeplechase prelims were canceled and will be run as a final event on Saturday and Taylor Anema finished the day in the 10,000 meters where she ran 39:11 and finished 17th. .
The women’s 4×800 of Bethany Ten Haken, Anmarie Stuit, Annika Rick and Mika Kooistra ran the fastest time in the prelims with a 9:09 and they won heat two. Wayland Baptist, the team that ran right behind the Defenders, was disqualified at the conclusion of the race.
The men’s 4×800 of Anthony Ghiorso, Trey Engen, Cole Zevenbergen and Payton Mauldin ran a 7:39 in heat two and qualified as the second team out of the heat. Grand View ran a 7:32.43 to win the first heat and has the fastest time in the prelims.
Jacob Vander Plaats ran a 3:59.35 in the 1500 meters earlier in the day and finished seventh in heat two and claimed a spot in the 12-runner finals with the ninth best time in the prelims.
Competition resumes on Thursday, May 27 at 3:50 when Matthew Van Eps begins defense of his 2019 800 meter championship with the prelims in the event.
