What is NCAA Women’s Triathlon and How Do I Get Involved?

For more than a decade, NCAA Women's Triathlon has shown incredible strides to become an official NCAA championship sport. With nearly 40 schools across the country at the Division I, II and III levels, NCAA Women's Triathlon offers a path for women to compete throughout their college career. For high school athletes who aspire to compete collegiately, the opportunity to be a part of an NCAA program is not an unrealistic consideration. 

This is Part I of USA Triathlon's NCAA Women's Triathlon content series that highlights the sport, the trajectory of the NCAA Women's Triathlon program and how you can get involved, whether you are an athlete, a parent, a coach or a school administrator. 

What is NCAA Women’s Triathlon?

NCAA Women’s Triathlon is an exciting, fast-paced varsity sport offered in the fall season at NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions. It features a draft-legal sprint distance format featuring a 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike, and 5k run. All athletes start together in a mass start, and drafting is allowed during the cycling leg — the same style used at the Olympic and World Triathlon elite levels. 

This sport prepares athletes not just for collegiate success but for the real world—teaching leadership, time management, confidence, and resilience that last a lifetime.

Triathlon is also one of the most accessible sports for schools to adopt: no special facilities are needed. Existing campus pools or community pools, running tracks, parks, trails, and local roads are all that a program requires to thrive.

Why Triathlon is a Perfect Fit for Schools and Student-Athletes

• Low-cost, high-impact sport: No major facility builds required
• Easily hosted on campus: Duals and triangular meets fit easily into campus life – many events are held in pools with runs on roads around the campus
• The travel load is not extreme, resulting in fewer missed class days 
• Supports Title IX compliance: Creates more opportunities for female athletes
• Outstanding student-athletes: Nearly 98% graduation rate—triathletes succeed in the classroom, not just on the course
• On the verge of NCAA Championship Status: Full championship status expected by 2027
• Different sport in the program portfolio: Triathlon is an individual sport that doesn’t mirror any others on the college campus. That creates a nice mix of sport options that can help attract a different kind of athlete to the institution.

Who Can Become an NCAA Triathlete?

• Although there are many programs consisting of just triathletes, several triathlon teams are made up of swimmers, runners, cyclists, soccer players, and other single-sport athletes
• For many programs, no triathlon experience required — just motivation, discipline, and a willingness to learn
• Perfect for student-athletes looking for a new challenge in an individual sport, but within a team environment
• Ideal for those seeking a balanced, multi-disciplinary training experience with lower injury risk

How Does the Season Work?

The triathlon regular season runs from September to October, ending with the Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championships in November in a warm-weather location. There is a also short spring season when athletes have NCAA-defined training and racing options. 

Each school competes in four races per season (one of the lowest requirements of any NCAA women’s sport), making scheduling simple for athletic departments. At regional championships, programs can enter up to 10 athletes, while seven compete at Nationals, with the top five finishers scoring points.

Most triathletes come from backgrounds in swimming, biking, or running, making the sport an attractive opportunity for single-sport high school athletes eager to continue competing at the collegiate level. No prior triathlon experience is required to be considered for recruitment.