St. Lawrence University in New York Adds Varsity Women’s NCAA Triathlon Program

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — USA Triathlon and St. Lawrence University today announced the school based in Canton, New York, has become the latest NCAA program to add women’s collegiate triathlon to its varsity sport offerings. The team will compete at the Division III level and begin competition in the fall of 2027. 

The new program marks another significant milestone in the continued growth of women’s collegiate triathlon across the NCAA landscape, made possible at St. Lawrence through support from the USA Triathlon Foundation and the TriDave Legacy Trust. The grant is offered to institutions to help develop, implement, and sustain women’s triathlon programs at the NCAA varsity level. 

"At St. Lawrence, athletics is about more than competition—it's about helping students discover what they're capable of in sport and beyond," said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Franco Bari '98, M'10, adding that recruitment of coaches and players will begin this fall. "Women's triathlon is attracting talented student-athletes who are looking for a place where they can compete at a high level, while being part of a close, supportive community. We're excited to welcome them to the Saints family and help build these programs from the ground up." 

"Welcoming St. Lawrence University to NCAA women's triathlon is a milestone we've worked toward for six years,” said USA Triathlon Chief Sport Development Officer, Tim Yount. “Their commitment reflects the continued momentum of our sport, and we're thrilled to see another outstanding institution provide women with the opportunity to compete in triathlon at the varsity level." 

The commitment by St. Lawrence continues the momentum women’s collegiate triathlon has built toward becoming an NCAA championship sport. Women’s triathlon is progressing through the NCAA Emerging Sports process, with remaining steps including committee, council, divisional, and budget approvals.  

Prospective students who are interested in women's triathlon can complete the women's triathlon recruiting questionnaire and send questions to SLUtriathlon@stlawu.edu. 

A fall sport, the women’s triathlon varsity season includes races with various distances and race types which culminate with Regional Championships, followed by the Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championships. Draft-legal races are contested at the sprint distance, featuring a 750-meter open-water swim, 20-kilometer draft-legal bike, and 5-kilometer run, while additional distances and disciplines are also supported, allowing NCAA triathlon to expand racing formats and broaden the competitive footprint of the sport. The 2026 USA Triathlon Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championships will be held Nov. 8 in Tempe, Arizona. 

The draft-legal format allows athletes to work together in packs on the bike over multiple laps on a closed course. This dynamic, spectator-friendly format mirrors the style of competition used at the Olympic Games and on the World Triathlon Championship Series circuit.  

For more information about triathlon as an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women, visit https://www.usatriathlon.org/multisport/ncaa-triathlon.  

Interested in helping identify and recruit the next women’s varsity collegiate triathlon program? Athletes currently competing in triathlon and those from single-sport backgrounds are invited to compete at the NCAA level. Inquiries may be directed to Tim Yount, USA Triathlon Chief of Sport Development, at tim.yount@usatriathlon.org. 

USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon, paratriathlon, and indoor and virtual multisport events in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 3,500 events and races and connects with and supports more than 300,000 unique active members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work at the grassroots level with athletes, coaches, and race directors — as well as the USA Triathlon Foundation — USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including World Triathlon World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

The USA Triathlon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the charitable arm of USA Triathlon. The Foundation advances the sport’s mission by funding programs that expand access and create opportunity across the multisport community. Focused on three philanthropic priorities, (1) Encouraging Youth Participation (2) Inspiring Pathways to Access and Belonging (3) Igniting Olympic and Paralympic Dreams, the Foundation works to transform lives through sport by providing opportunities to swim, bike, and run. Since its founding in 2014, the Foundation has impacted thousands of lives by investing in individuals and organizations that are building a healthier, more inclusive United States through triathlon.