Sophomore Dunya Van den Tooren wasted no time making her mark at Point Park, emerging as one of the Mountain East Conference’s most versatile and consistent athletes. From breaking school records to climbing conference rankings across multiple events, the Gouda, Netherlands, native continues to show that her early collegiate success is only the beginning.
Van den Tooren’s sophomore season has been defined by breakthrough performances. She set a new school record in the long jump (5.75 meters) and earned two NCAA provisional marks at a Youngstown State meet, clearing 1.70 meters in the high jump while matching her long jump mark. Those results placed her among the top competitors in the conference and put her on the national radar.
Her momentum carried into late January at the Scorcher/Columbia Challenge in Bronx, N.Y., where Van den Tooren captured first place in the triple jump, an event she only recently added to her competitive lineup.
She now ranks first in the MEC in both the triple jump and high jump, while sitting second in the long jump, showcasing her versatility.
Track and field coach Tim Creamer believes that adaptability has been key to Van den Tooren’s rapid development.
“For an underclassman like Dunya to make this kind of impact early on, it really sets her up for the next steps in her collegiate career,” Creamer said. “She’s a student of the sport and wants to be the best in every event she enters.”
Van den Tooren’s rise began during a strong freshman campaign. She earned USTFCCCA All-Atlantic Region honors, qualified for the ECAC/IC4A Championships in both the long jump and high jump and placed fifth in the high jump (1.68 meters). She also earned NCAA Division II USTFCCCA All-Academic honors, balancing elite performance with success in the classroom.
Despite those accomplishments, Van den Tooren said her first year left her hungry for more.
“I did a lot of good things, but I didn’t win,” Van den Tooren said. “That really helps motivate me.”
Her willingness to compete in multiple events, including the pentathlon, has also fueled her growth. While physically demanding, Van den Tooren said the mental benefits outweigh the challenges.
“If you have a bad day in one event, you can still do something great in another,” she said. “It takes a lot of pressure off.”
That mindset has paid off as she experiments with new events. The triple jump, now one of her top conference rankings, was something she had barely tried before this season.
“Winning on my second attempt was surprising,” she said. “It made me really excited for the future.”
A two-time MEC Athlete of the Week, Van den Tooren remains focused on improvement rather than accolades.
“Dunya doesn’t get too high or too low,” Creamer said. “She uses every meet as a learning experience.”
As an international student-athlete, Van den Tooren has embraced the team-centered structure of U.S. collegiate athletics.
“Here, track is a huge part of your life,” Van den Tooren said. “I really love the team environment.”
Looking ahead, Van den Tooren’s goals are simple: stay healthy, continue improving, and help Point Park compete for a conference championship.
“I want to win, but more than that, I want our team to win,” she said. “We have such a strong group, and I just want to keep growing, having fun and doing my part to help us succeed.”
