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

TEMPE, Ariz. (Nov. 8, 2025)- For the fourth straight year, the North Central College women's triathlon team was crowned the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Champions, while senior Bethany Smeed captured the 2025 Collegiate Division III Individual National Title.

The national championship featured competitors across all divisions through three waves, consisting of a 750 meter swim, 20 kilometer bike, and five kilometer run.

In the first wave of the day, Sydney Sprayberry and Olivia Durbin set the tone early for the Cardinals. Sprayberry powered ahead to the front on the bike leg and placed third in the wave with a time of one hour, twenty minutes, and twenty-eight seconds.

Durbin battled back through the bike and run segments to finish runner-up in the wave, clocking in one hour, seventeen minutes and thirty-four seconds. 

The second wave featured Cardinals Smeed, Jordan Haupt, and Taylor Robinson. Smeed fought to close the bike pack gap before unleashing a dominant run to finish in one hour, ten minutes, and thirteen seconds, putting herself in position to win the Division III Individual National title and what would become the first national title of her career in her senior season.

Haupt recorded a time of one hour, sixteen minutes, and eight seconds, earning the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship Division III Freshmen of the Year honors for her performance. 

Robinson continued the Cardinals' momentum in the second wave, staying in the mix with the pack throughout and finishing in a time of one hour, seventeen minutes and fourteen seconds.

In the final wave of the day, Keeley Mick was the lone Division III athlete and delivered a standout performance against Division I and Division II competition. With Mick still competing, Smeed's national title remained undecided until the final results were posted. Mick crossed the line in one hour, ten minutes, and thirty seconds to place second among Division III competitors, finishing just seconds behind teammate Smeed to finalize the Division III standings. 

After officially clinching the title, Smeed was asked how it feels to finish out on top in her last race as a Cardinal.

"It's a dream come true," Smeed said. "It's a perfect cherry on top for my collegiate career. I'm so proud to see all my teammates have phenomenal races and peak on the perfect day, and just have win after win for everyone." 

North Central secured the team title with 450 points, followed by Trine University in second with 392 points and Central College in third (272). Willamette University placed fourth with 261 points, Millikin University finished fifth with 178 points and Concordia University Wisconsin rounded out division III in sixth with 78 points.

Smeed and Mick were both named All-Americans following their finishes, while head coach Tyler Woodward received National Coach of the Year after guiding the Cardinals to another dominant season. Woodward is a three-time National Champion in his third season at North Central.

"This win means a lot," Woodward said afterward. "The team and coaches all know this is the ultimate goal, winning a national championship. It really is a year in the making every year. This team stepped up and delivered today which was amazing to see. I couldn't be more proud."

North Central has now collected seven USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships in the past eight years, bringing home its fourth straight title. The women's triathlon program becomes the first team in North Central athletics history to win four consecutive national championships, securing their place in history and bringing another national trophy home to Naperville.