NAIA Indoor Championships
Recap
The Dordt University women's 4x800 relay won the national title to highlight day two of the 2022 NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships held in Brookings, S.D.
Coming in with the sixth fastest time in Thursday's prelim, the Defenders nearly led from wire-to-wire in winning their second 4x800 title in as many years (2021 NAIA Outdoor). Bethany Ten Haken gave the Defenders the early lead with a 2:16 split on the opening carry while Emilee Heynen followed with another 2:16 split to lengthen her team's lead. Anmarie Stuit was up next and extended the Dordt lead with a 2:16 split, giving her teammate, Mika Kooistra, the baton in great position to claim the win. The Defenders posted a time of 9:08.57, nearly 20 seconds faster than Thursday's prelim. Taylor, the defending champion, was second with 9:15.
"The women's 4x800 relay team really dug down deep for a great performance," said Dordt Head Coach Craig Heynen. "These ladies ran quite a few races for a championship level meet and the quality of their performances in the relay was very impressive."
Earlier in the day, both Stuit and Heynen qualified for the finals in the 600m. Stuit finished third in her section (1:34.71) and had the fourth fastest time overall while Heynen was just behind, in fourth place in heat three, with a time of 1:34.86. Both times were personal bests. Kooistra missed qualifying for the finals, placing 13th (1:36.7).
Emma Bakker, Jessica Kampman, Anika Homan and Ten Haken also competed and did not make it to finals in their event. Bakker was 21st in the 400m (58.44), Ten Haken was 16th in the 800m (2:25) and Homan (19th - 10:40) and Kampman (22nd - 10:45) competed in the 3K.
Saturday's Line-Up:
Anmarie Stuit, Emilee Heynen - 600m: 1:25pm
4x400 - 4:55pm
Next Up
Defender athletes will compete on the third and final day of the NAIA Indoor Championships tomorrow (Saturday, March 5).