Triathlon 10/8/2017 11:21:00 AM

Bennett, Garza Lead UWA Triathlon Effort

SARASOTA, Fla. – Chloe Bennett finished 19^th overall and McKenna de la Garza 24^th as West Alabama wrapped up competition in the 2017 East Region Qualifier at the Sarasota-Bradenton Triathlon Festival at Nathan Benderson Park.

Bennett was ninth among 23 Division II competitors and Garza 13^th. Bennett clocked in at 1:16:19 and Garza cross the finish line at 1:20:47.

The remainder of Tiger entries, Hannah Martin, Caitlyn Muncher, Lara Riegger and Madeline Hernandez did not finish the race, which consisted of a 2K run, 18.3 bike ride and then a 5K run.

The event was changed to a duathlon due to the level of algae in the lake at Nathan Benderson Park. All races at the Festival were shifted from triathlons (swim-bike-run format) to duathlons (run-bike-run format).

Arizona State won the team championship, followed by the Queens University club team. East Tennessee State was third. The race served as the final opportunity for teams and individuals to earn berths to the Women's Collegiate National Championship, set for Nov. 5 in Tempe, Arizona.

The first athlete across the line was Jocelyn Bonney (Long Beach, Calif.) in 1:04:22. Emily Cameron of the University of Georgia finished second to Bonney in 1:04:33, but was declared the race champion due to Bonney's ineligibility for awards as an athlete racing unattached. Cameron also earned the Division I individual title.

Queens University of Charlotte's Caitlin Roper earned the Division II individual title with a time of 1:05:46, and Trine University's Hannah Blystone was the Division III individual champion in 1:11:05.

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Players Mentioned

Caitlyn Muncher: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Chloe Bennett: Graduate Student

Lara Riegger: Freshman

Madeline Hernandez: Sophomore

Hannah Martin: Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Caitlyn Muncher
: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Chloe Bennett
: Graduate Student

Lara Riegger
: Freshman

Madeline Hernandez
: Sophomore

Hannah Martin
: Graduate Student