CLINTON, ILLINOIS — Competing just outside of her hometown, Central College triathlon freshman
Adeline Koritz (Clinton, Ill.) was the top Dutch finisher for the third time in her career at the Prairie State Cup hosted by Millikin University.
Duquesne University (Pa.), a NCAA Division I program, was the team winner. Central took seventh place in the 12-team event.
The Dutch were competing under official rules for the first time all season, meaning a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer draft-legal bike and a 5-kilometer run.
Koritz crossed the line 24th overall in 1 hour, 16 minutes and 43 seconds.
"She's been great," coach
Jennie Hedrick-Rozenberg said. "She's pushing everybody on our team. If she can catch up with our fastest swimmers out of the water, it will help her out a lot on the bike to draft with them. And she'll have more energy for her run."
Taylor Jones (junior, Knoxville) was Central's No. 2 finisher for the first time, completing the race in 1:17.59 to take 29th place.
Juniors
Luci Laidlaw (Pella) and
Grace Benson (Newton) were 32nd and 36th in times of 1:18.42 and 1:19.33.
"Luci was on our own for a lot of the bike," Hedrick-Rozenberg said. "She's on a different bike that is faster, but she's working to believe that she is faster on it. She also ran one of the fastest 5Ks she's ever run.
"Grace had a great swim and a great bike. It's the first time we've had a hot run through a prairie in a long time and the pollen and allergies were hard for her. It was one of her stronger runs mentally."
Katelyn Freeman (junior, Castle Rock, Colo., Castle View HS) was the final team scorer for the Dutch, placing 47th in 1:26.28.
Estella Allen (freshman, Newton) finished 49th in 1:27.19. Senior
Sophie Lunning (senior, Mason City) was 52nd in 1:32.27.
Sara Sienkiewicz (junior, Plainfield, Ill., Neuqua Valley HS) was 60th in 1:36.12
Central is headed to Springfield, Missouri for the USA Triathlon West Regional Qualifier on Saturday, October 12. That meet determines Central's status for the national meeti in November.
