By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

HUDDLESTON, Va. -- Ella Isaacson (Fy., Saint Paul, MN/Central HS) of Willamette University placed 17th in the overall standings during the NCAA Division III Sprint Collegiate Race at the Kinetic Cup Triathlon Festival on Saturday, Oct. 16. The triathlon was held at Smith Mountain Lake Park and was a national qualifier for USA Triathlon. The triathlon featured a 750-meter swim, a 20-kilometer cycle, and a 5-kilometer run. 

Isaacson recorded a combined time of 1:18:17.7. Her best phase during the race was the cycle, as she moved through the course in 35:11. It was the 12th fastest time on a bike among the 50 competitors in the Division III triathlon. WU teammate Veronica Castille (Fy., Round Rock, TX/Cedar Ridge HS) took 36th place in the final standings at 1:25:17.0. Castille registered a time of 13:25 in the swim to place 14th in that portion of the event.

Amira Faulkner from Trine University (Ind.) won the overall individual title with a time of 1:07:55.3. She was first in the run (21:30), second in the bike (31:49.1), and 10th in the swim (12:42.5).

Annika Cotner of North Central College (Ill.) was second at 1:09:04.6 and Hailey Poe, also from North Central, placed third at 1:09:55.7. Fourth place went to Charlotte Kumler of Transylvania University (Ky.), who registered a combined time of 1:10:45.8. Hope Roderick from Millikin University (Ill.) was fifth in 1:11.32.7. Cotner won the cycle phase in 31.37.3 and Roderick won the swim in 11:51.6.

Team standings were not immediately available. Willamette did not enter a full team.

The Bearcats will compete in the Utah Regional Qualifier on Saturday, Oct. 30. The triathlon will be held at Quail Creek State Park in St. George, Utah.