Top Women’s Collegiate Triathletes Set to Compete at 2025 Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championships in Tempe, Arizona

TEMPE, Ariz. — The 2025 Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championships are set to take place this Saturday, Nov. 8, as Tempe, Arizona, once again hosts the nation’s top women’s varsity collegiate triathletes competing for individual and team national titles in NCAA Division I, DII and DIII.

The event is held in conjunction with the Sun Devil Triathlon Classic, an age group draft-legal sprint race. This is the seventh time Tempe and Arizona State University have hosted the Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championships.

More than 30 varsity programs from all three NCAA divisions are expected to compete on the draft-legal sprint-distance course, which features a 750-meter swim in Tempe Town Lake, followed by a 20-kilometer bike and 5k run on the streets surrounding downtown Tempe. For race details and live athlete tracking, visit the event website. 

Race Format

Saturday’s racing will feature three separate waves contested at the Tempe Town North Lake Park, with the waves based on individual performances from athletes at their respective regional qualifiers two weeks ago or at various cup races earlier in the season. 

Generally speaking, the first two waves will feature athletes from DIII and DII schools, with the final wave featuring DI and DII athletes. The first wave is set to go off at 10:30 a.m., the second wave at 12:45 p.m., and the final wave at 3 p.m. 

The final times from all three waves of Saturday's races will be merged to determine the overall individual standings. Overall team scores will then be calculated from those individual standings. Up to five individuals will be counted in each team's score, while the sixth and seventh finishers from a given team will serve as tie-breakers. 

Although the individual and team standings will be calculated from the overall all-encompassing results, awards will be presented to the top individual and teams in each of the three NCAA Divisions.

Division I Preview: Arizona Looks to Defend First-Ever National Title

After capturing its first-ever national championship in 2024, the University of Arizona returns as the defending DI team champion. The Wildcats ended Arizona State University’s seven-year championship streak last fall and will aim to hold off their in-state rivals once again on familiar Tempe turf.

Leading the Wildcats are returners Kelly Wetteland, Margareta Vrablova, and Molly Lakustiak, all of whom finished in the top 10 last year.

Arizona State, led by 2024 individual national champion Naomi Ruff, will look to reclaim its crown with strong performances from Alexandra Campbell and Britney Brown. 

Queens University of Charlotte returns as a podium contender after finishing third in 2024, with veterans Beth Cook and Livia Wespe returning after top-10 finishes last year. 

Division II Preview: Wingate Seeks Second Straight Title

Wingate University of Wingate, North Carolina, captured its first Division II team title last season and comes to Tempe looking to repeat. Shelby Lajeunesse, Rebecca Nolan, and Vanda Krizkova lead the team. 

Lenoir-Rhyne University, the 2023 DII national champion and 2024 runner-up, will look to challenge Wingate for the top spot behind veteran Sabrina Fleig, the 2023 individual champion, and teammate Zoila Sicilia. 

Drury University and Colorado Mesa University round out a competitive DII field that continues to grow stronger each year.

Division III Preview: North Central Eyes Fourth Straight Championship

North Central College of Naperville, Illinois, enters the weekend looking to extend its DIII dynasty, having won three consecutive team titles and six overall. The Cardinals are led by Keeley Mick and Bethany Smeed, who each placed in the top 10 at last year’s championship in Clermont, Florida. 

Trine University and Central College will look to challenge for podium spots after placing second and third, respectively. 

Learn More about NCAA Triathlon

About 40 schools across the U.S. now offer women’s triathlon at the varsity level, marking continued growth for the sport as it advances toward becoming a fully recognized NCAA Championship Sport. Women’s collegiate triathlon was designated an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women in 2014 and features the same draft-legal, fast-paced format seen in elite international competition, including the Olympic Games.

To learn more about Women’s Collegiate Triathlon, visit usatriathlon.org/multisport/ncaa-triathlon.