Yankton, South Dakota — The Dordt Defender women’s track and field team opened competition at the NAIA National Indoor Track and Field Championships and had a banner day with all of the competitors advancing out of prelims into finals of the events on Friday.
4×400 prelims: Anmarie Stuit, Emma Bakker, Annika Rick, Mika Kooistr ran a 3:55.64 which won heat three and was the third fastest time of the day. Southeastern (Florida) has the fastest time out of prelims with a 3:53.91. The finals will be run on Friday at 3:45.
Distance Medley prelims: Taylor Anema, Jessica Kampman, Anna Herman, Bethany Ten Haken ran 12:34.89 and made it into the finals with the eighth fastest time in prelims and the final spot reserved for the four fastest times that wasn’t one of the top-two finishers in either heat. Milligan had the fastest time in the prelims with a 12:18.15. Six seconds separate the final six spots in the field. The finals of the event will be run on Friday at 3:25.
400 meter prelims: Emma Bakker won the fourth heat with a time of 57.77 and earned a spot in the final field. Joy Abu from William Carey had the fastest time in the prelims with a 56.69. The finals will be at 12:00 on Friday.
600 meter prelims: Annika Rick ,Mika Kooistra and Anmarie Stuit all qualified for the finals in the event. Rick ran 1:38.34 and won the first heat while Kooistra and Stuit finished second in their respective heats. Kooistra ran a 1:35.88 which is the second fastest in the field and Stuit ran 1:36.99. Coshan Campbell from Campbell Baptist ran the fastest time in the event with a 1:35.02. The finals in the event will be at 12:15 on Friday.
800 meter prelims: Bethany Ten Haken placed second in the third heat with a time of 2:17.21 and has the fifth fastest time going into the finals. Emma Mott ran a 2:15.65 and is from Bethel (Indiana) and hers is the fastest time in the prelims. The 800 finals will be Friday at 12:45.
