Contact: Ava Yurchison, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, 630-637-5302

Results

NEW ORLEANS, La. (Nov. 5, 2016)- The North Central College women's triathlon team concluded its inaugural season Saturday as the top team in their division while competing at the Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championship, sponsored by USA Triathlon.
 
Freshman Nikki Banas continued to be North Central's top competitor, crossing the finish line first for the Cardinals and for any NCAA Division III institution. She finished the 500-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike and 5-kilometer run in one hour, 11 minutes and 19 seconds. Banas was the leading athlete throughout North Central's opening season.
 
Less than a minute behind Banas was freshman Grace Miller. Miller started the race strong, being the fourth out of the 56 competitors to complete the swim portion (10:25) and head onto the bikes. Her firm lead from the swim and elite running allowed her to finish in a time of 1:12:12, awarding her the second-place position for Division III schools.
 
Sophomore Jennifer Hufnagle took a tumble turning a sharp corner on the bike route, though she was able to get up, fix her bike chain and bandage her cuts before earning herself a finishing time of 1:21:47 and 42nd place.
 
As a team, North Central earned 69 points and placed seventh overall.