Contact: Rachel Balinao, Athletics Communication Graduate Assistant, rabalinao@noctrl.edu 

CLINTON, Ill.(Oct. 4, 2025)- The North Central College women's triathlon team competed this morning at the Prairie State Cup in Clinton, Ill., securing first-place among Division III programs, with Bethany Smeed finishing top twenty-five overall. 

The event, hosted by Millikin University at Clinton Lake State Recreation Area, featured NCAA Division I,II, and III competitors in a sprint-distance format of a 750 meter swim, 12 mile bike, and 3.2 mile run. North Central finished first among the seven Division III programs in attendance, with Trine University taking second.

Bethany Smeed was the first Cardinal across the line, clocking one hour, six minutes, and fifty-eight seconds to place first among Division III athletes and twenty-fifth overall across all divisions. Keeley Mick followed closely in one hour, eight minutes, and four seconds, taking second among Division III competitors and twenty seventh overall. 

Taylor Robinson finished forty-fifth overall with a time of one hour, thirteen minutes, and eleven seconds, while Olivia Durbin came in forty-eighth at one hour, fifteen minutes, and eighteen seconds. 

Norah Dorrance and Jordan Haupt crossed the line just seconds apart, as Dorrance finished in one hour, sixteen minutes, and twenty-nine seconds, and Haupt followed in one hour, sixteen minutes, and thirty-six seconds to place fifty-second and fifty-third. Sydney Sprayberry rounded out the Cardinals' lineup, finishing in one hour, seventeen minutes, and thirty-six seconds.

The Cardinals' next race is on Oct. 26 at the USA Triathlon West Regional Qualifier, taking place in Fort Worth, Texas, where they will compete for a spot at the national championships.