TEMPE, ARIZ. — The Central College women's triathlon team put the final exclamation mark on a sensational season by earning their second consecutive trip to the national podium. The Dutch secured a stellar third place in the Division III standings at the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships on Saturday, November 8.
Contested in Tempe, the championship race brought together 190 competitors from across all NCAA levels for a grueling sprint triathlon. Athletes navigated a 750-meter swim, a 20-kilometer bike, and a 5-kilometer run.
Multiple All-Americans Power Central's Effort
Central's success was fueled by exceptional individual performances, with three athletes earning coveted All-American honors.
- Senior Luci Laidlaw (Pella) and sophomore Addie Koritz (Clinton, Ill.) led the charge, with both earning All-American recognition for their top-ten finishes in the division. Laidlaw placed an impressive fifth in Division III, clocking a time of 1:14:22.9 and securing 86 points for the team. Koritz was right behind her, taking seventh place in Division III with a time of 1:15:05.6 and adding 79 points.
- Senior Katelyn Freeman (Castle Rock, Colo., Castle View HS) capped off her career by earning Honorable Mention All-American status with a 20th place finish in DIII.
The combined efforts of the team's top five scorers resulted in a final score of
272 points, placing them third behind champions North Central College (450 points) and runners-up Trine University (392 points).
Seniors Deliver in Final Collegiate Race
The final two scoring athletes, both seniors, ensured the team held its ground on the national podium:
- Grace Benson (Newton) posted a time of 1:23:51.3 for 26th place in DIII, earning 34 points.
- Madi Whalen (Kansas City, Mo., Park Hill) rounded out the team's top five scorers, finishing in 29th place in DIII and adding 31 points with a time of 1:24:43.2.
The team's depth, a characteristic of their successful season, was also evident in the supporting efforts:
- Estella Allen (sophomore, Newton) finished in 32nd place in DIII, earning 28 points.
- Georgia Havlicek (junior, Solon) finished in 43rd place in DIII, adding 8 points to the team total.
This national performance caps a brilliant season that saw the Dutch claim a second-place finish at the West Regional Qualifier and now a coveted national podium finish, solidifying their standing among the nation's elite Division III programs.
For full race results, follow this link:
https://4peaksracing.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=16494&RId=6484&brid=uWrSnW98gG1ZfEtRVU4WeQ
