By Charlie McGuire, Athletics Communications Assistant
TEMPE, Ariz. – The Willamette University women's triathlon team is sending seven athletes to the 2022 Women's Collegiate National Championships, hosted by Arizona State University. All three NCAA Divisions will compete at North Beach Tempe Town Lake on Saturday, November 12. A collegiate triathlon race included a 750-meter swim, a 20-kilometer cycle, and a 5-kilometer run.
The Bearcats turned in some strong performances this fall, in just the program's second season under Head Coach Brett Franz. Sophomore Ella Isaacson (Saint Paul, MN/Central HS) posted a top 10 finish at the Division III Eastern Regional on Oct. 15, placing seventh overall.
Classmate Veronica Castille (So., Round Rock, TX/Cedar Ridge HS) was 11th while first-year Abbey Staniec (Stockton, CA/Lincoln HS) crossed the line in 15th place. The trio was particularly strong in the swimming portion of the event, registering the seventh, eighth and 10th fastest times.
Junior Ria Martinez (Seattle, WA/Holy Names Academy) and first-year athletes Molly Parsons (Dallas, TX/Dallas HS) and Alessandra Armenta-Lopez (Portland, OR/Gladstone HS) also had strong showings at the Regional, finishing with times of 1:37:29.3, 1:37:55.0 and 1:45:06.5, respectively. All six competitors will travel to Arizona, along with first-year Aubrey Tuttle (Roseville, CA/Roseville HS).
Tuttle placed third among NCAA competitors in the Women's Sprint at the Best in the West Triathlon and was sixth overall. Isaacson was fifth in NCAA and in the top-10 overall as Willamette finished just two points behind Humboldt State University in the team standings.
Isaacson and Tuttle finished second and third, respectively, leading the Bearcats to a team title at the Nelson Park Aquathon in Decatur, Illinois on September 23. The event featured only swimming and running legs, but no biking segment. The Bearcats edged host Millikin University by one point, 63-62.
The following day, the Bearcats captured seventh against a very strong Division III field at the Millikin University Invitational. Tuttle and Isaacson claimed 13th and 15th in the individual standings.
For more information on the 2022 National Championships, visit the official website here. You can receive Race Timed Splits and Finish Alerts by signing up for text alerts. Just click on the Athlete Tracking tab on the website or click here.
