USAT Announces Exhibition Women's Collegiate Season

Published September 12, 2014 07:59PM

Three events in 2014 comprise inaugural slate following NCAA Emerging Sport status.

USA Triathlon today announced the three events that will comprise the inaugural 2014 women’s collegiate triathlon season, including the Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championships in Clermont, Florida, on Nov. 2.

The three draft-legal exhibition events showcase the season structure that will be implemented next year when triathlon is granted official NCAA sport status. Triathlon received overwhelming approval through a voting process this past January at the NCAA Conference in San Diego by Division I, II and III colleges and universities to be included as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women, and has a 10-year window to demonstrate sustainability as an NCAA sport option.

Races will feature a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and a 5-kilometer run as outlined in the proposal approved by the NCAA. The season will kick off this Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Triathlon at Pacific Grove Collegiate Elite Exhibition, and continue on Oct. 26 with the Brooklyn Triathlon Collegiate Women’s Invitational Cup. Event details, including registration information, are below.

The Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championships will be held on Nov. 2 at Lake Louisa State Park in Clermont, Florida. The National Championships will be an invitation-only event, with the top-10 finishers in the two early-season events automatically qualifying for a spot on the start list. Invitations to the first-ever collegiate women’s championship event will also be based on results from the club-focused 2014 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships, the 2014 Junior Elite rankings and athletes who may not be affiliated with a collegiate or junior club team and have posted competitive times in previous draft-legal events.

“We have been working diligently over the past nine months to quickly create a baseline season that demonstrates the talent pool for women ages 16-25 and the impact the sport can make at the varsity level within the NCAA,” said Rob Urbach, USA Triathlon CEO. “These races are a prime opportunity to show colleges and universities considering the sport for their athletics programs why it is a viable option, and the significant potential for the student-athletes and the community. With a full year to work with schools and build the foundation for women’s varsity triathlon at the collegiate level, we are excited to launch a NCAA season schedule in 2015.”

For more information on triathlon as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women, visit Usatriathlon.org/ncaa.