Contact: Sam Fretto, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, sjfretto@noctrl.edu

CLINTON, Ill. (Sept. 21, 2024)- In their last event before the USA Triathlon West Regional Qualifier, the North Central College women's triathlon team took a trip down to Clinton, Illinois, for the Prairie Tri Cup hosted by Millikin University. The Cardinals placed third of 12 teams and first among Division III teams. 

The Cardinals scored 250 points in the event, while first-place Duquesne University scored 302 points and second-place Black Hills State University scored 260. 

Bethany Smeed was able to secure a ninth-place finish in the field of 66 competitors. Smeed finished the sprint triathlon with a time of one hour, 10 minutes, and 47 seconds. 

Charlotte Kumler placed 11th, finishing shortly after Smeed with a time of one hour, 10 minutes, and 53 seconds. Kumler made up time in the biking portion, finishing with a top-three time of 32 minutes and 32 seconds. 

Scarlett Schuth (1:10:59) was the third and last top-15 finisher for the Cardinals. Keeley Mick finished next for the Cardinals outside of the top 20, completing the event in 1:15:50. 

Taylin Lemke (1:18:45), Sydney Sprayberry (1:19:07), and Abigail Anderson (1:19:28) finished back-to-back in 33rd, 34th, and 35th place. Taylor Robinson was the last Cardinal to finish in 38th place with a time of one hour, 20 minutes, and seven seconds.

The Cardinals are now preparing to gear up for the regionals and national championship. They return to action Saturday, Oct. 12 for the USA Triathlon West Regional Qualifier, hosted in Springfield, Missouri. Click HERE for the full schedule. 

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