SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI — Looking to secure its spot at next month's national championship meet, the Central College triathlon team finished second amongst Division III squads at the USA Triathlon West Regional Qualifier Saturday.
The Dutch were second only to North Central College (Ill.) amongst NCAA Division III schools. Arizona State University was the overall winner with 614 points. Central was 11th overall with 314 points. Naomi Ruff of the Sun Devils won the individual title in 1 hour, 2 minutes and 25 seconds.
The top-24 teams combined from all levels at both the West and East Regional qualifiers will qualify for the USA Triathlon National Championships on November 9 in Clermont, Florida. That list of 24 teams was not official as of Saturday night.
Grace Benson (junior, Newton) and
Luci Laidlaw (junior, Pella) were both able to finish top 10 amongst Division III runners. Benson was eighth in 1 hour, 18 minutes and 43 seconds while Laidlaw was ninth in 1:19.05.
"They came out of the water close together," Hedrick-Rozenberg said. "Grace hasn't had a great run in awhile but she had a great one today. Luci also excelled on her run."
Taylor Jones (junior, Knoxville) was 12th in 1:20.04,
Adeline Koritz (freshman, Clinton, Ill.) was 17th in 1:20.39. Koritz was the lone Central runner to compete in the second, faster heat against primarily Division I athletes.
"She was third to last out of the water, even though she had her best swim time ever," Hedrick-Rozenberg said. "It was hard to fall that far behind early."
Katelyn Freeman (junior, Castle Rock, Colo., Castle View HS) was Central's fifth and final scorer, crossing the line in 1:27.07.
Sophie Lunning (senior, Mason City) finished in 1:29.22.
Estella Allen (freshman, Newton) finished at 1:30.25
Hedrick-Rozenberg believes that at least Central's top four finishers from Saturday we'll go to the national meet as individual entries but also believes her team has a strong chance to go together as one of the top-24 teams nationally.
