Sioux Center, Iowa – Various female athletes from Dordt University have earned postseason honors as released by the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Friday, February 27th.
The Dordt University women’s track and field team turned in 37 all-conference performances at the 2026 Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Indoor Track and Field Championships held last weekend at the Holwerda Family Indoor Track on the campus of Dordt University.
The Defenders won their first conference title in program history, totaling 200 points compared to 199 by Doane, in a competition that came down to the final event, the 4×400 relay.
Among those 37 all-conference performances, the Defenders won seven GPAC titles, five on the track and two in field events. Two Defenders, Makenna Walhof (weight throw) and Fran Travis (shot put), set program records in their respective event.
GPAC Champions (7):
- Fran Travis – Shot Put (school record)
- Makenna Walhof – Weight Throw (school record)
- Shelby Buwalda – 600m
- Corinne Braun – 1000m
- Addy Crow – Mile
- Joy Koole – 3000m
- Hannah Thong – 5000m
Eight Dordt athletes earned all-conference honors in multiple individual events;
- Anna Heynen – 200m, 400m
- Addy Crow – 1000m, Mile
- Addy Liston – 800m, Mile
- Joy Koole – Mile, 3000m
- Jeni Burtis – 3000m, 5000m
- Hannah Thong – 3000m, 5000m
- Jessica Opfer – 3000m, 5000m
- Fran Travis – Shot Put, Weight Throw
Four Dordt runners earned all-conference honors in one individual event and one relay;
- Kaitlyn Wercinski – 600m, 4×400
- Shelby Buwalda – 600m, 4×400
- Ada Dekkers – 400m, 4×400
- Arielle DeYoung – 800m, 4×400
All-Conference Athletes / Event / Past Event History (Indoor Season only):
- 60m Hurdles:
- Avery Van Weerdhuizen – 8th (1st time)
- 200m:
- Kailee Altena – 6th (1st time)
- Anna Heynen – 8th (2nd time)
- 2025 – 8th
- 400m:
- Ada Dekkers – 5th (1st time)
- Anna Heynen – 7th (1st time)
- 600m:
- Shelby Buwalda – 1st (4th time)
- 2026 – 1st
- 2025 – 2nd
- 2024 – 2nd
- 2023 – 4th
- Kaitlyn Wercinski – 4th (2nd time)
- 2026 – 4th
- 2025 – 4th
- Kayla Van Otterloo – 5th (2nd time)
- 2026 – 5th
- 2025 – 8th
- Shelby Buwalda – 1st (4th time)
- 800m:
- Arielle DeYoung – 2nd (2nd time)
- 2026 – 2nd
- 2025 – 4th
- Addy Liston – 5th (1st time)
- Jenna Hursh – 6th (1st time)
- Elizabeth Hoogland – 7th (1st time)
- Arielle DeYoung – 2nd (2nd time)
- 1000m:
- Corinne Braun – 1st (1st time)
- Addy Crow – 4th (2nd time)
- 2026 – 4th
- 2025 – 7th
- Raegan Snieder – 5th (1st time)
- Mile:
- Addy Crow – 1st (1st time)
- Joy Koole – 2nd (1st time)
- Addy Liston – 4th (1st time)
- Olivia Hoogland – 6th (2nd time)
- 2026 – 6th
- 2025 – 4th
- 3000m:
- Joy Koole – 1st (1st time)
- Macy Marshall – 3rd (1st time)
- Jeni Burtis – 4th (1st time)
- Hannah Thong – 5th (2nd time)
- 2026 – 5th
- 2025 – 1st
- Jada Koerner – 6th (1st time)
- Jessica Opfer – 8th (1st time)
- 5000m:
- Hannah Thong – 1st (2nd time)
- 2026 – 1st
- 2025 – 2nd
- Jessica Opfer – 2nd (2nd time)
- 2026 – 2nd
- 2024 – 2nd
- Isabella Webb – 3rd (1st time)
- Courtney Joiner – 4th (3rd time)
- 2026 – 4th
- 2025 – 3rd
- 2024 – 6th
- Jeni Burtis – 6th (1st time)
- Hannah Thong – 1st (2nd time)
- High Jump:
- Ada Smies – 5th (1st time)
- Long Jump:
- Taydem Graden – 5th (1st time)
- Shot Put:
- Fran Travis – 1st (1st time)
- Weight Throw:
- Makenna Walhof – 1st (2nd time)
- 2026 – 1st
- 2025 – 6th
- Fran Travis – 6th (1st time)
- Makenna Walhof – 1st (2nd time)
- 4×400 Relay – 2nd: 3:35.8
- (Wercinski, DeYoung, Dekkers, Buwalda)
- Pentathlon:
- Jenny Lumkes – 5th (1st time)
KIWA Staff Photo
