Triathlon 11/5/2017 8:51:00 PM

Tiger Tri Sixth Overall, Second Among D2 at USAT Collegiate Nationals

TEMPE, Ariz. – Paced by a 17^th place overall finish by Hannah Martin, the University of West Alabama triathlon team finished sixth overall, second among Division II teams, at the USAT Collegiate Nationals Sunday at Tempe Town Lake North Shore.

The event featured 14 intercollegiate teams and five unattached competitors in the 82-woman field. An interdivisional event, there were six Division I teams, four from Division II and four from Division III. Both varsity and club teams compete together.

Martin was the second overall Division II varsity finisher, the fifth from the entire Division II field, covering the 750m swim, 20 km bike ride and 5km run on 1:08:57.57.

Hosting Arizona State won the event, followed by Queens University-Charlotte, Cal-Berkley, Colorado and North Central (Ill.) College to round out the top five.

"The girls did an awesome job. They all came out of the water near the top," Tiger coach Allie Nicosia said. "All of the girls worked hard in their packs to put themselves into a good position on the run."

Chloe Bennett was 41^st overall, third in Division II varsity and 12^th among all Division II competitors, finishing in 1:13:45.80. Caitlyn Muncher rounded out point scorers for UWA, covering the course in 1:15:51.17 to come in 46^th overall, fourth in Division II varsity and 14^th among all Division II entrants. Julia Bergmann was 57^th overall, ninth among Division II varsity and 19^th overall in Division II with a tie of 1:19:35.63.

"This team has been our most talented squad yet, and to finish second in Division II to a club team shows how far we have to grow as a sport," Nicosia said. "Last year, clubs were factored out of the divisional awards and this year they were not. I am so proud of our effort and the season these girls have had."

The USAT Collegiate Nationals closes the season for the Tigers.

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Players Mentioned

Julia Bergmann: 5' 9"; Junior

Caitlyn Muncher: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Chloe Bennett: Graduate Student

Hannah Martin: Graduate Student

Players Mentioned

Julia Bergmann
: 5' 9"; Junior

Caitlyn Muncher
: 5' 9"; Sophomore

Chloe Bennett
: Graduate Student

Hannah Martin
: Graduate Student