NCAA Triathlon
Emerging Sport Discussion Resource
The Committee on Women’s Athletics has recommended the addition of triathlon as an emerging sport
for women. This resource is meant to provide your institution and conference with information for that
discussion. The resource includes:
• Introduction
• The USA Triathlon proposal submitted to CWA
• The NCAA legislative drafts
• The NCAA Emerging Sport Program history and process
• News from the 2013 USAT collegiate nationals
• Sample student-athlete Blogs
Introduction
The NCAA Emerging Sports for Women program was developed in the mid-nineties through a recommendation by the NCAA Gender Equity Task Force. The program’s goals are to identify sports for women
that have the potential to grow participation opportunities, identify sports that are of interest to our
membership schools and their communities, and that have the potential to grow into NCAA championship sports. Institutions are allowed to use emerging sports to help meet the NCAA minimum sportssponsorship requirements and also to meet the NCAA’s minimum financial aid awards.
Nine sports were on the first emerging sports list. In the past 17 years, four have become championship
sports – bowling, ice hockey, rowing and water polo - while others have been added to or removed from
the list. The current list includes equestrian (Divisions I & II), rugby and sand volleyball (Divisions I & II).
The Committee on Women’s Athletics manages this program and has been working with USA Triathlon
for several years as it developed its proposal. The triathlon community and NCAA staff have discussed the
concepts for the sport at multiple events and meetings, gathering suggestions from all divisions of the
membership for potential rules related to the sport as an NCAA offering.
At its April 2013 meeting, the Committee on Women’s Athletics completed the process of evaluating
triathlon’s proposal and voted to recommend that all three divisions sponsor legislation to add triathlon
to the emerging sports for women list. The usual legislative process in each division will apply. Therefore,
institutions and conferences will have the full opportunity to debate the proposal on its merits and make
amendments to the draft legislative proposals included in this document.
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Triathlon is a growing women’s Olympic and lifetime-participation sport, proving to be a popular and viable club sport for hundreds of NCAA institutions. The popularity of this relatively young sport, particularly
by women of all ages, matched with the comprehensive athletic talent that is showcased by competitive
triathletes, make triathlon an interesting sport to review and consider as the next sport on the NCAA’s
emerging sports for women list.
Quick Highlights
1. At the 2013 Collegiate National event in Tempe, Arizona, 46 states were represented by collegiate athletes. 21 schools participated in the inaugural Legal Draft race. 404 women competed in the Collegiate
Nationals event. Women consistently represent over 40% of the collegiate participants. See the full
race program at http://online.publicationprinters.com/launch.aspx?eid=db2fa553-506f-49b9-8a536c2bb0733710
2. Nearly a third of all USAT members are under the age of 20 (over 40,000).
3.USA Triathlon currently conducts an extensive certification program for coaches that can serve as a
membership resource.
4. USAT conducts a grassroot program, Splash and Dash, in 50 locations across the country to introduce
the sport to new communities and participants.
5. NCAA triathlon recommendation highlights
a. Fall championship season. Allows colder weather schools to compete during the first part of the
practice/competitive season.
b. Facility requirements:
• Dual and multi-team events can be conducted in a pool or an open body of water.
• Road events are on closed courses.
• Collegiate waves can be added to existing triathlon events rather than schools needing to create
their own event.
c. Format would include both a legal draft and novice wave as a matter of safety and to allow participants new to the sport to gain experience in the cycling portion of the race.
d.Event length: Swim 600m-1K; Bike 20K-30K; Run 4K-6K.
e.Maximum dates of competition – 6. Minimum contests – 4.
f. Anticipated squad size – 12-15 total (7-10 non draft novice and 5-8 legal-draft).
g.Coaching limit – 2 (Division I).
h.Athletics financial aid (Divisions I and II): Initially 3.5 equivalencies, phasing into 6.5 equivalencies
within four years.
i. The Triathlon presentation to the CWA, including student-athlete and coach participants, can be
found as a video on the NCAA Emerging Sports for Women website: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/myportal/ncaahome?WCM_GLOBAL_CONTEXT=/ncaa/ncaa/about+the+ncaa/diversity+and+inclusion/
gender+equity+and+title+ix/new+emerging+sports+for+women
The association-wide CWA respectfully requests that the NCAA membership vote in favor of this proposal. Even if your institution may not be interested in adding the sport, a vote in support of this proposal will
allow other member institutions the freedom to add triathlon if it makes sense for their female student
interests, athletics’ philosophy and budget. A vote in favor creates the possibility of new participation opportunities for women and time to see if the sport can grow to championship-level sponsorship.
Thank you for your attention to these matters.
Marilyn Moniz-Kaho’ohanohano
Chair, NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics
NCAA staff contact: Karen Morrison, Director of Inclusion
[email protected]
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
NCAA Triathlon Introduction................................................................. 1
Draft Legislation Proposals
Division III................................................................................. 4
Division II.................................................................................. 7
Division I................................................................................. 13
Triathlon Proposal submitted to CWA................................................ 19
Executive Summary.............................................................. 21
Triathlon.................................................................................. 22
Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential ................................. 25
The Importance of Triathlon................................................ 31
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal............................ 34
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) ................................. 37
Emerging Sports Backgrounder.......................................................... 41
2013 Triathlon National Collegiate News........................................... 44
Student-Athlete Sample Blogs............................................................. 52
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Division III
Title: DIVISION MEMBERSHIP, AMATEURISM, AND PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS -- EMERGING
SPORTS FOR WOMEN -- WOMEN’S TRIATHLON
Source:
Effective Date: August 1, 2014
Proposal Category: Amendment
Topical Area: Playing and Practice Seasons
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Intent: To add women’s triathlon as an emerging sport for women and establish legislation related to
amateurism, playing and practice seasons and membership, as specified.
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A. Bylaws: Amend 12.1.2.3, as follows:
12.1.2 Amateur Status if Professional in Another Sport. A professional athlete in one sport may represent
a member institution in a different sport. Additionally, the amateurism legislation detailed this section
is sport-specific.
[12.1.2.1 through 12.1.2.2 unchanged.]
12.1.2.3 Triathlon and Cross Country, Track and Field and Swimming. Triathlon includes elements
of competition similar to cross country, track and field and swimming competition and cannot be
separated effectively from those sports for purposes of Bylaw 12. Therefore, triathlon and cross
country are considered the same sport, triathlon and track and field are considered the same sport,
and triathlon and swimming are considered the same sport for purposes of Bylaw 12.
B. Bylaws: Amend 17, as follows:
17 Playing and Practice Seasons
[17.01 unchanged.]
17.02
[17.02.1 through 17.02.11 unchanged.]
17.02.12 Varsity Intercollegiate Sport. A varsity intercollegiate sport is a sport that has been accorded
that status by the institution’s president or chancellor or committee responsible for intercollegiate athletics policy and that satisfies the following conditions:
[17.02.12-(a) through 17.02.12-(c) unchanged.]
[17.02.12.1 unchanged.]
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17.02.12.2 Individual Sports. The following are classified as individual sports for purposes of this bylaw:
Women’s Bowling Skiing
Cross Country
Swimming and Diving
Women’s Equestrian Tennis
Fencing
Track and Field, Indoor and Outdoor
Golf
Women’s Triathlon
Gymnastics
Wrestling
Rifle
[17.02.13 unchanged.]
[17.1 through 17.23 unchanged.]
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17.24 Triathlon, Women’s. Regulations for computing the triathlon playing season are set forth in
Bylaw 17.1. (See Figure 17-1.)
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17.24.1 Length of Playing Season. (See Bylaw 17.1.1.3.1 for fall NCAA championship sports.)
17.24.2 Preseason Practice. (See Bylaw 17.1.1.3.1.1)
17.24.3 First Date of Competition. (See Bylaw 17.1.1.3.1.1)
17.24.4 End of Regular Playing Season. (See Bylaw 17.1.1.3.1.1)
17.24.5 Number of Dates of Competition.
17.24.5.1 Maximum Limitations -- Institutional. A member institution shall limit its total playing
schedule with outside competition in triathlon during the institution’s triathlon playing season to
six dates of competition except for those dates of competition excluded under Bylaws 17.24.5.3.
For in-season foreign competitions, see Bylaw 17.1.4.3.
17.24.5.2 Maximum Limitations -- Student-Athlete. A student-athlete may participate each academic year in a maximum of six dates of competition in triathlon. This limitation includes those
dates of competition in which the student-athlete represents the institution, including competition as a member of the varsity, junior varsity or freshman team of the institution in accordance
with Bylaws 17.02.4 and 17.02.8.
17.24.5.3 Annual Exemptions. (See Standard Exemptions set forth in Bylaw 17.1.4.5)
17.24.6 Out-of-Season Athletically Related Activities. (See Bylaw 17.1.5)
[17.24 through 17.29 renumbered as 17.25 through 17.30, unchanged.]
C. Bylaws: Amend 20.02.6, as follows:
20.02.6 Emerging Sports for Women. The following shall be considered emerging sports for women:
(a) Team Sports: Rugby; and
(b) Individual Sports: NoneTriathlon.
D. Bylaws: Amend 20.11.3.8, as follows;
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20.11.3.8 Minimum Contests and Participants Requirements for Sports Sponsorship. In each sport, the
institution’s team shall engage in at least a minimum number of intercollegiate contests (against the varsity programs of four-year, degree-granting collegiate institutions) each year. In the individual sports, the
institution’s team shall include a minimum number of participants in each contest that is counted toward
meeting the minimum-contests requirement. The following minimums are applicable:
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Individual Sports
Minimum Contests
Minimum Participants
Women’s Triathlon
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[All other sports unchanged.]
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(Note: The minimum-contest requirements set forth in Bylaws 20.11.3.8.1 through 20.11.3.8.8 apply only
to the provisions of this section and do not apply to minimum-contest requirements in Bylaws 14 and
17.)
[20.11.3.8.1 through 20.11.3.8.9 unchanged.]
Rationale: Significant support exists for triathlon to be added as an emerging sport for women, including support from institutions and national governing bodies. Data indicate that USA
Triathlon’s female membership has increased from 11 percent in the early 1990s, to 37 percent at the end
of 2012 (50,136) and 404 females (40% of the total; 85 collegiate women’s programs) participated in the
2013 USAT Collegiate National Championships. One hundred sixty-two club teams are registered with
USA Triathlon (117 Division I; 14 Division II and 22 Division III). It is expected that the addition of women’s
triathlon will produce a significant increase in participation opportunities for women, as well as provide
the membership with a new option for sponsorship of a women’s sport.
Estimated Budget Impact: Based on institutional sponsorship of the sport.
Impact on Student-Athlete’s Time (Academic and/or Athletics): Based on institutional sponsorship of
the sport.
Figure 17-1
Sport
Preseason Practice
17._2
First Date of Competition 17._3
End of Regular
Season 17._4
Number of Dates
of Competition/
Contests 17._5
Standard Contest
Exemptions
Triathlon
Date that permits 16
units in the preseason practice formula before the first
scheduled intercollegiate competition
TS – September 1
or the preceding
Friday if September
1 falls on a Saturday,
Sunday or Monday.
NTS – February 1
TS – Conclusion of
NCAA championship.
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Alumni Contest
Conference Championship
Conference Playoff
Foreign Team in U.S.
Foreign Tour-(once in
three years)
Fundraising Activity
Independents Championship
Season-ending Tournament
Hawaii, Alaska and
Puerto Rico –(once in
four years)
NTS – Five weekdays before start
of final exam
period.*
*Five-weekday limitation applies to any regular academic term
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Sport Specific
Exemptions
Division II
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PLAYING AND PRACTICE SEASONS -- DIVISION MEMBERSHIP -- EMERGING SPORTS FOR WOMEN –
WOMEN’S TRIATHLON
Convention Year: 2014
Effective Date: August 1, 2014
Source:
Proposal Category: Presidents Council
Topical Area: Playing and Practice Seasons
Status:
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Intent: To add women’s triathlon as an emerging sport for women and establish legislation related to
amateurism, recruiting, financial aid, playing and practice seasons and membership, as specified.
A. Bylaws: Amend 12.02, as follows:
12.02 Definitions and Applications.
[12.02.1 through 12.02.5 unchanged.]
12.02.6 Triathlon and Cross Country, Track and Field and Swimming. Triathlon includes elements
of competition similar to cross country, track and field and swimming competition and cannot be
separated effectively from those sports for purposes of Bylaw 12. Therefore, triathlon and cross
country are considered the same sport, triathlon and track and field are considered the same sport,
and triathlon and swimming are considered the same sport for purposes of Bylaw 12.
B. Bylaws: Amend Bylaw 14.2.4, as follows:
[14.2.4.1 through 14.2.4.3, unchanged]
14.2.4.4 Triathlon and Cross Country, Track and Field and Swimming. Triathlon includes elements
of competition similar to cross country, track and field and swimming competition and cannot be
separated effectively from those sports for purposes of organized competition. Therefore, triathlon and cross country are considered the same sport, triathlon and track and field are considered
the same sport, and triathlon and swimming are considered the same sport for purposes of the
organized competition legislation.
[14.2.4.4 through 14.2.4.5 renumbered as 14.2.4.5 through 14.2.4.6, unchanged]
C. Amend 15.5.2.1.2, as follows;
15.5.2.1.2 Women’s Sports. There shall be a limit on the value (equivalency) of financial aid awards (per
Bylaw 15.02.4.1) that an institution may provide in any academic year to counters in each women’s sport,
as follows:
[All other sports unchanged.]
Triathlon . . . . . . . . . . 3.5 for 2014-15; 4.5 for 2015-16; 5.5 for 2016-17; and 6.5 for 2017-18 and thereafter.
D. Bylaws: Amend 17, as follows: 17 Playing and Practice Seasons
[17.01 unchanged.]
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17.02
[17.02.1 through 17.02.11 unchanged.]
17.02.12 Practice Opportunities. For women’s rugby, women’s triathlon and men’s water polo, in determining the number of practice opportunities to establish the starting date for preseason practice, there
shall be counted one for each day beginning with the opening of classes, one for each day classes are
not in session in the week of the first scheduled intercollegiate contest and two for each other day in
the preseason practice period, except that the institution shall not count any days during the preseason
when all institutional dormitories are closed, the institution’s team must leave campus, and practice is
not conducted.
[17.02.12.1 through 17.02.14 unchanged]
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17.02.15 Varsity Intercollegiate Sport. A varsity intercollegiate sport is a sport that has been accorded
that status by the institution’s president or chancellor or committee responsible for intercollegiate athletics policy and that satisfies the following conditions: R
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[17.02.15-(a) through 17.02.15-(c) unchanged.]
[17.02.15.1 unchanged.]
17.02.15.2 Individual Sports. The following are classified as individual sports for purposes of this bylaw: Bowling, Women’s
Skiing
Cross Country
Swimming and Diving
Equestrian, Women’s
Tennis
Fencing
Track and Field, Indoor and Outdoor
Triathlon, Women’s
Golf
Gymnastics
Wrestling
Rifle
[17.02.16 through 17.02.17 unchanged.]
[17.1 through 17.23 unchanged.]
17.24 Triathlon, Women’s. Regulations for computing the triathlon playing season are set forth in
Bylaw 17.1. (See Figure 17-1 and Figure 17-2.)
17.24.1 Length of Playing Season. The length of an institution’s playing season in triathlon shall
be limited to a 144-day season, which may consist of two segments (each consisting of consecutive days) and which may exclude only required off days per Bylaw 17.1.6.4 and official vacation,
holiday and final-examination periods during which no practice or competition shall occur.
17.24.2 Preseason Practice. A member institution shall not commence practice sessions in triathlon prior to the date that permits a maximum of 21 opportunities (see Bylaw 17.02.12) prior to the
first scheduled intercollegiate contest.
17.24.3 First Date of Competition. A member institution shall not engage in its first date of competition (game or scrimmage) with outside competition in triathlon prior to September 1 or the
preceding Friday if September 1 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday (see Figure 17-2).
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17.24.4 End of Regular Playing Season. A member institution shall conclude all practice and competition (games and scrimmages) in triathlon by the last date of final examinations for the regular
academic year at the institution.
17.24.5 Number of Dates of Competition.
17.24.5.1 Maximum Limitations -- Institutional. A member institution shall limit its total
playing schedule with outside competition in triathlon during the institution’s triathlon
playing season to six dates of competition except for those dates of competition excluded under Bylaws 17.24.5.3 and 17.24.5.4.
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17.24.5.1.1 In-Season Foreign Competition. A member institution may play one or
more of its countable dates of competition in triathlon in one or more foreign countries on one trip during the prescribed playing season. However, except for contests
played in Canada and Mexico or on a certified foreign tour (see Bylaw 17.28), the
institution may not engage in such in-season foreign competition more than once
every four years.
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17.24.5.2 Maximum Limitations -- Student-Athlete. An individual student-athlete may
participate each academic year in not more than six dates of competition in triathlon,
including not more than two during the segment in which the NCAA championship is not
conducted. This limitation includes those dates of competition in which the student-athlete represents the institution in accordance with Bylaw 17.02.8, including competition
as a member of the varsity, junior varsity or freshman team of the institution.
17.24.5.3 Annual Exemptions. The maximum number of dates of competition in triathlon shall
exclude the following:
(a) Conference Championship. Competition in one conference championship or playoff in triathlon;
(b) Season-Ending Championship. Competition in one of the recognized national intercollegiate
championship events in women’s triathlon. A season-ending tournament involves competition
after the end of the regular season between teams that are not identified until the close of the
regular season;
(c) Alumni Contest. One date of competition each year against an alumni team of the institution;
(d) Foreign Team in the United States. One date of competition each year with a foreign opponent
in the United States conducted on the course on which the member institution regularly conducts
its home dates of competition;
(e) Fundraising Activity. Any triathlon activities in which student-athletes from more than one
of the institution’s athletics teams participate with and against alumni and friends of the institution, the purpose of which is to raise funds for the benefit of the institution’s athletics or other
programs, provided the student-athletes do not miss classes as a result of their participation (see
Bylaw 12.5.1.1);
(f) Celebrity Sports Activity. Competition involving a limit of two student-athletes from a member
institution’s triathlon team who participate in local celebrity triathlon activities conducted for the
purpose of raising funds for charitable organizations, provided:
(1) The student-athletes do not miss classes as a result of the participation;
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(2) The involvement of the student-athletes has the approval of the institution’s athletics
director; and
(g) U.S. National Team. One date of competition against any team as selected and designated by
the appropriate national governing body for triathlon as a U.S. national team; and
(e) Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico. Any dates of competition conducted in Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto
Rico, respectively, either against or under the sponsorship of an active member institution located
in Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico, by a member located outside these locales;
17.24.5.4 Once-in-Four-Years Exemption -- Foreign Tour. An institution may not exempt
more than one foreign tour from its maximum number of dates of competition in triathlon during any academic year and may not repeat participation in a foreign tour within a
four-year period. The tour shall be conducted by the member institution in accordance
with the procedures set forth in Bylaw 17.29.
17.24.6 Out-of-Season Athletically Related Activities. Student-athletes and members of the
coaching staff shall not engage in countable athletically related activities outside the institution’s
declared playing season per Bylaw 17.24.1 except as permitted in Bylaw 17.1.6.2.
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17.24.6.1 Summer Practice. Practice that is organized or financially supported by a member institution shall be prohibited during the summer unless specifically authorized in
the bylaws (e.g., foreign tour) or through official interpretations approved by the Management Council. An institution may pay fees associated with the use of institutional
practice and competition facilities by student-athletes engaged in voluntary athletically
related activities in their sport.
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17.24.7 Safety Exception. A coach may be present during voluntary individual workouts in the
institution’s regular practice facility (without the workouts being considered as countable athletically related activities) when the student-athlete is engaged in swimming or cycling. The coach
may provide safety or skill instruction but may not conduct the individual’s workouts.
17.24.8 Camps and Clinics. There are no limits on the number of student-athletes in triathlon who
may be employed (e.g., as counselors) in camps or clinics (see Bylaw 13.12). Currently enrolled
student-athletes may not participate as campers in their institution’s camps or clinics.
17.24.9 Other Restrictions.
17.24.9.1 Noncollegiate, Amateur Competition.
17.24.9.1.1 During Academic Year. A student-athlete shall be denied eligibility for
triathlon competition for the remainder of the season if, after enrollment in college
and during any year in which the student-athlete is a member of an intercollegiate
triathlon squad or team, she competes or has competed as a member of any outside
triathlon team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition during the institution’s intercollegiate triathlon season.
17.24.9.1.2 Out of Season. There are no limits on the number of student-athletes
from the same member institution with eligibility remaining in intercollegiate triathlon who may practice or compete out of season on an outside, amateur triathlon
team.
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17.24.9.1.2.1 Involvement of Coaching Staff. No member of the coaching staff of a
member institution may be involved in any capacity (e.g., coach, official, player or
league/team administrator) during the academic year (including vacation periods
during the academic year) with any student-athlete with eligibility remaining from
the institution’s triathlon team except as provided under Bylaws 14.7.5, 16.8.1.3.1
and 17.28.
17.24.9.1.2.2 Olympic and National Team Development Program. There are no limits
on the number of student-athletes from the same institution who may participate
in Olympic and national team development programs. Such programs may also include a coach and student-athlete from the same institution, provided:
(a) The national governing body conducts and administers the developmental program;
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(b) The national governing body selects coaches involved in the developmental program; and
(c) A committee or other authority of the national governing body, which is not limited to coaches affiliated with one particular institution, selects the involved participants.
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17.24.9.2 Equipment Issue, Squad Pictures. No limitations.
[17.24 through 17.29 renumbered as 17.25 through 17.30, unchanged.]
E. Bylaws: Amend 20.02.6, as follows:
20.02.6 Emerging Sports for Women. The following shall be considered emerging sports for women (see
Bylaw 20.10.3.3): (a) Team Sports: rugby and sand volleyball; and
(b) Individual Sports: equestrian and triathlon. F. Bylaws: Amend 20.10.3.5, as follows;
20.10.3.5 Minimum Contests and Participants Requirements for Sports Sponsorship. In each sport, the
institution’s team shall engage in at least a minimum number of intercollegiate contests (against fouryear, degree-granting collegiate institutions) each year. In the individual sports, the institution’s team
shall include a minimum number of participants in each contest that is counted toward meeting the
minimum-contests requirement. The following minimums are applicable:
Individual Sports
Women›s Triathlon
Minimum Contests
4 Minimum Participants
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[All other sports unchanged.]
(Note: The minimum-contest requirements set forth in Bylaws 20.10.3.5.1 through 20.10.3.5.9 apply only
to the provisions of this section and do not apply to minimum-contest requirements in Bylaws 14 and
17.)
[20.10.3.5.1 through 20.10.3.5.10 unchanged.]
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Rationale: Significant support exists for triathlon to be added as an emerging sport for women, including support from institutions and national governing bodies. Data indicate that USA Triathlon’s female
membership has increased from 11 percent in the early 1990s, to 37 percent at the end of 2012 (50,136)
and 404 females (40% of the total; 85 collegiate women’s programs) participated in the 2013 USAT Collegiate National Championships. One hundred sixty-two club teams are registered with USA Triathlon
(117 Division I; 14 Division II and 22 Division III). It is expected that the addition of women’s triathlon will
produce a significant increase in participation opportunities for women, as well as provide the membership with a new option for sponsorship of a women’s sport.
Points/Questions to Consider for Division II:
1. Is the proposed financial aid equivalency model appropriate for Division II?
2. The playing and practice seasons legislation is drafted to align with the recommendations being made in
Division I. It does not align with other DII fall sports. Is this appropriate? Rugby and equestrian are drafted
to align with Division I, but sand volleyball was drafted to mirror other Division II spring sports. National
Collegiate sports in Division II are often drafted with a length of playing season (e.g. 144-day season) to
align with Division I.
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3. Division II does not have practice units so preseason practice was drafted similarly to rugby which has
practice units in Division I and practice opportunities in Division II.
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4. The restrictions for participation in noncollegiate amateur competition were drafted to align with the outside competition regulations in other DII sports. The standard would be different than Division I’s standard
in the sport. Is that appropriate?
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Division I
Title: DIVISION MEMBERSHIP, PERSONNEL, AMATEURISM, FINANCIAL AID, AND PLAYING AND
PRACTICE SEASONS -- EMERGING SPORTS FOR WOMEN -- WOMEN’S TRIATHLON
Intent: To add women’s triathlon as an emerging sport for women and establish legislation related to
athletics personnel, amateurism, recruiting, financial aid, playing and practice seasons and membership,
as specified.
A. Bylaws: Amend 11.7.4, as follows:
11.7.4 Limitations on Number of Coaches and Off-Campus Recruiters. There shall be a limit on the number
of coaches (other than graduate assistant coaches per Bylaw 11.01.3, undergraduate assistant coaches
per Bylaw 11.01.4 and volunteer coaches per Bylaw 11.01.5) who may be employed by an institution and
who may contact or evaluate prospective student-athletes off campus in each sport as follows:
Sport
Triathlon, Women’s
Limit
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[All other sports unchanged.]
[11.7.4.1 unchanged.]
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11.7.4.2 Exceptions to Number Limits. No individual other than coaches designated to fill the
coaching categories set forth in Bylaw 11.7.4 may participate in any manner in the coaching of
the intercollegiate team of a member institution during any game, practice or other organized
activity, with the following exceptions:
[11.7.4.2.1 through 11.7.4.2.2 unchanged.]
11.7.4.2.3 Volunteer Coach. In sports other than football, basketball, women’s equestrian,
and women’s rowing and women’s triathlon, a member institution may use the services
of one volunteer coach (per Bylaw 11.01.5). Indoor track and field, outdoor track and field,
and cross country are separate sports for purposes of this provision. In sports in which
the NCAA conducts separate men’s and women’s championships, a combined men’s and
women’s program may use two volunteer coaches.
[11.7.4.2.3.1 through 11.7.4.2.3.5 unchanged.]
11.7.4.2.3.6 Volunteer Coach -- Women’s Triathlon. In women’s triathlon, an
institution may use the services of one volunteer coach for the swimming element, one volunteer coach for the cycling element and one volunteer coach for
the running element.
B: Bylaws: Amend 12.02, as follows:
12.02 Definitions and Applications.
[12.02.1 through 12.02.6 unchanged.]
12.02.7 Triathlon and Cross Country, Track and Field and Swimming. Triathlon includes elements
of competition similar to cross country, track and field and swimming competition and cannot be
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separated effectively from those sports for purposes of Bylaw 12. Therefore, triathlon and cross
country are considered the same sport, triathlon and track and field are considered the same sport,
and triathlon and swimming are considered the same sport for purposes of Bylaw 12.
[12.02.7 renumbered as 12.02.8, unchanged.]
C. Bylaws: Amend 15.5.3.1.2, as follows;
15.5.3.1.2 Women’s Sports. There shall be a limit on the value (equivalency) of financial aid awards (per
Bylaw 15.02.4.1) that an institution may provide in any academic year to counters in the following women’s sports:
[All other sports unchanged.]
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Triathlon . . . . . . . . . . 3.5 for 2014-15; 4.5 for 2015-16; 5.5 for 2016-17; and 6.5 for 2017-18 and thereafter.
D. Bylaws: Amend 17, as follows: R
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17 Playing and Practice Seasons
[17.01 unchanged.]
17.02
[17.02.1 through 17.02.11 unchanged.]
17.02.12 Varsity Intercollegiate Sport. A varsity intercollegiate sport is a sport that has been accorded
that status by the institution’s president or chancellor or committee responsible for intercollegiate athletics policy and that satisfies the following conditions: [17.02.12-(a) through 17.02.12-(c) unchanged.]
[17.02.12.1 unchanged.]
17.02.12.2 Individual Sports. The following are classified as individual sports for purposes of
this bylaw: Women’s Bowling
Cross Country
Women’s Equestrian
Fencing
Golf
Gymnastics
Rifle
Skiing
Swimming and Diving
Tennis
Track and Field, Indoor and Outdoor
Women’s Triathlon
Wrestling
[17.02.13 through 17.02.15 unchanged.]
[17.1 through 17.23 unchanged.]
14
17.24 Triathlon, Women’s. Regulations for computing the triathlon playing season are set forth in
Bylaw 17.1. (See Figure 17-1 and Figure 17-2.)
17.24.1 Length of Playing Season. The length of an institution’s playing season in triathlon shall
be limited to a 144-day season, which may consist of two segments (each consisting of consecutive days) and which may exclude only required off days per Bylaw 17.1.6.4 and official vacation,
holiday and final-examination periods during which no practice or competition shall occur.
17.24.2 Preseason Practice. A member institution shall not commence practice sessions in triathlon prior to the date 21 units (see Bylaw 17.02.11) prior to the first scheduled intercollegiate contest.
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17.24.3 First Date of Competition. A member institution shall not engage in its first date of competition (game or scrimmage) with outside competition in triathlon prior to September 1 or the
preceding Friday if September 1 falls on a Saturday, Sunday or Monday (see Figure 17-2).
17.24.4 End of Regular Playing Season. A member institution shall conclude all practice and competition (games and scrimmages) in triathlon by the last date of final examinations for the regular
academic year at the institution.
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17.24.5 Number of Dates of Competition.
17.24.5.1 Maximum Limitations -- Institutional. A member institution shall limit its total
playing schedule with outside competition in triathlon during the institution’s triathlon
playing season to six dates of competition except for those dates of competition excluded under Bylaws 17.24.5.3 and 17.24.5.4.
17.24.5.1.1 In-Season Foreign Competition. A member institution may play one or
more of its countable dates of competition in triathlon in one or more foreign countries on one trip during the prescribed playing season. However, except for contests
played in Canada and Mexico or on a certified foreign tour (see Bylaw 17.28), the
institution may not engage in such in-season foreign competition more than once
every four years.
17.24.5.2 Maximum Limitations -- Student-Athlete. An individual student-athlete may participate
each academic year in not more than six dates of competition in triathlon, including not more
than two during the segment in which the NCAA championship is not conducted. This limitation
includes those dates of competition in which the student-athlete represents the institution in accordance with Bylaw 17.02.8, including competition as a member of the varsity, junior varsity or
freshman team of the institution.
17.24.5.3 Annual Exemptions. The maximum number of dates of competition in triathlon shall
exclude the following:
(a) Conference Championship. Competition in one conference championship or playoff in triathlon;
(b) Season-Ending Championship. Competition in one of the recognized national intercollegiate championship events in women’s triathlon. A season-ending tournament involves competition after the end of the regular season between teams that are not identified until the
close of the regular season;
(c) Alumni Contest. One date of competition each year against an alumni team of the institu15
tion;
(d) Foreign Team in the United States. One date of competition each year with a foreign opponent in the United States conducted on the course on which the member institution regularly
conducts its home dates of competition;
(e) Fundraising Activity. Any triathlon activities in which student-athletes from more than
one of the institution’s athletics teams participate with and against alumni and friends of the
institution, the purpose of which is to raise funds for the benefit of the institution’s athletics
or other programs, provided the student-athletes do not miss classes as a result of their participation (see Bylaw 12.5.1.1);
(f) Celebrity Sports Activity. Competition involving a limit of two student-athletes from a
member institution’s triathlon team who participate in local celebrity triathlon activities conducted for the purpose of raising funds for charitable organizations, provided:
(1) The student-athletes do not miss classes as a result of the participation;
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(2) The involvement of the student-athletes has the approval of the institution’s athletics
director; and
(3) The activity takes place within a 30-mile radius of the institution’s main campus.
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(g) U.S. National Team. One date of competition against any team as selected and designated
by the appropriate national governing body for triathlon as a U.S. national team; and
(e) Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico. Any dates of competition conducted in Hawaii, Alaska or
Puerto Rico, respectively, either against or under the sponsorship of an active Division I institution located in Hawaii, Alaska or Puerto Rico, by a member located outside these locales;
17.24.5.4 Once-in-Four-Years Exemption -- Foreign Tour. An institution may not exempt more
than one foreign tour from its maximum number of dates of competition in triathlon during
any academic year and may not repeat participation in a foreign tour within a four-year period. The tour shall be conducted by the member institution in accordance with the procedures
set forth in Bylaw 17.29.
17.24.6 Out-of-Season Athletically Related Activities. Student-athletes and members of the
coaching staff shall not engage in countable athletically related activities outside the institution’s
declared playing season per Bylaw 17.24.1 except as permitted in Bylaw 17.1.6.2.
17.24.6.1 Summer Practice. Practice that is organized or financially supported by a member
institution shall be prohibited during the summer unless specifically authorized in the bylaws
(e.g., foreign tour) or through official interpretations. An institution may pay fees associated
with the use of institutional practice and competition facilities by student-athletes engaged
in voluntary athletically related activities in their sport.
17.24.7 Safety Exception. A coach may be present during voluntary individual workouts in the
institution’s regular practice facility (without the workouts being considered as countable athletically related activities) when the student-athlete is engaged in swimming or cycling. The coach
may provide safety or skill instruction but may not conduct the individual’s workouts.
17.24.8 Camps and Clinics. There are no limits on the number of student-athletes in triathlon who
may be employed (e.g., as counselors) in camps or clinics (see Bylaw 13.12). Currently enrolled
16
student-athletes may not participate as campers in their institution’s camps or clinics.
17.24.9 Other Restrictions.
17.24.9.1 Noncollegiate, Amateur Competition.
17.24.9.1.1 During Academic Year. A student-athlete in triathlon who participates during
the academic year as a member of any outside triathlon team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition (e.g., team invitational meet, exhibition meets or other activity) except
while representing the institution in intercollegiate triathlon competition shall be ineligible for intercollegiate triathlon competition unless eligibility is restored by the Committee on Student-Athlete Reinstatement (see Bylaw 14.7.3 for exceptions).
17.24.9.1.1.1 Vacation-Period Exception. A student-athlete in triathlon may compete outside of the institution’s declared playing and practice season as a member
of an outside team in any noncollegiate, amateur competition during any official vacation period published in the institution’s catalog. The number of student-athletes
from any one institution shall not exceed two.
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17.24.9.1.2 Out of Season. There are no limits on the number of student-athletes from
the same member institution with eligibility remaining in intercollegiate triathlon who
may practice or compete out of season on an outside, amateur triathlon team (competition on an outside team is permitted only during the summer, except as provided in Bylaw 17.24.9.1.1.1).
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17.24.9.1.2.1 Involvement of Coaching Staff. No member of the coaching staff of a
member institution may be involved in any capacity (e.g., coach, official, player or
league/team administrator) during the academic year (including vacation periods
during the academic year) with any student-athlete with eligibility remaining from
the institution’s triathlon team except as provided under Bylaws 14.7.3, 17.1.1.1 and
17.29.
17.24.9.1.2.2 Olympic and National Team Development Program. There are no limits
on the number of student-athletes from the same institution who may participate
in Olympic and national team development programs. Such programs may also include a coach and student-athlete from the same institution, provided:
(a) The national governing body conducts and administers the developmental program;
(b) The national governing body selects coaches involved in the developmental program; and
(c) A committee or other authority of the national governing body, which is not limited to coaches affiliated with one particular institution, selects the involved participants.
17.24.9.2 Equipment Issue, Squad Pictures. No limitations.
[17.24 through 17.29 renumbered as 17.25 through 17.30, unchanged.]
E. Bylaws: Amend 20.02.4, as follows:
17
20.02.4 Emerging Sports for Women. The following shall be considered emerging sports for women and
countable for purposes of revenue distribution (for sports sponsorship and grants-in-aid): (a) Team Sports: rugby and sand volleyball; and
(b) Individual Sports: equestrian and triathlon. F. Bylaws: Amend 20.9.4.3, as follows;
20.9.4.3 Minimum Contests and Participants Requirements for Sports Sponsorship. In each sport, the institution’s team shall engage in at least a minimum number of intercollegiate contests (against four-year,
degree-granting collegiate institutions) each year. In the individual sports, the institution’s team shall include a minimum number of participants in each contest that is counted toward meeting the minimumcontests requirement. The following minimums are applicable:
Individual Sports
Women’s Triathlon Minimum Contests
4
[All other sports unchanged.]
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Minimum Participants
3
(Note: The minimum-contest requirements set forth in Bylaws 20.9.4.3.1 through 20.9.4.3.8 apply only to
the provisions of this section and do not apply to minimum-contest requirements in Bylaws 14 and 17.)
[20.9.4.3.1 through 20.9.4.3.9 unchanged.]
Source:
Effective Date: August 1, 2014
Proposal Category: Amendment
Topical Area: Playing and Practice Seasons
Rationale: Significant support exists for triathlon to be added as an emerging sport for women, including support from institutions and national governing bodies. Data indicate that USA
Triathlon’s female membership has increased from 11 percent in the early 1990s, to 37 percent at the end
of 2012 (50,136) and 404 females (40% of the total; 85 collegiate women’s programs) participated in the
2013 USAT Collegiate National Championships. One hundred sixty-two club teams are registered with
USA Triathlon (117 Division I; 14 Division II and 22 Division III). It is expected that the addition of women’s
triathlon will produce a significant increase in participation opportunities for women, as well as provide
the membership with a new option for sponsorship of a women’s sport.
Estimated Budget Impact: Based on institutional sponsorship of the sport.
Impact on Student-Athlete’s Time (Academic and/or Athletics): Based on institutional sponsorship
of the sport.
18
TABLE OF CONTENTS
for
Triathlon — An NCAA Emerging Sport Proposal
Triathlon — An NCAA Emerging Sport Proposal.............................. 19
Executive Summary.............................................................. 21
Triathlon.................................................................................. 22
Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential ................................. 25
The Importance of Triathlon................................................ 31
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal............................ 34
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) ................................. 41
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
for
Triathlon — An NCAA Emerging Sport Proposal
Triathlon — An NCAA Emerging Sport Proposal.............................. 19
Executive Summary.............................................................. 21
Triathlon.................................................................................. 22
Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential ................................. 25
The Importance of Triathlon................................................ 31
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal............................ 34
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) ................................. 37
20
Executive Summary:
An NCAA Athletic Adm inistrator’s job of organizing quality athl etic opportunities for student
athletes may seem relatively straight forward.
However, the com plexities of the athletic
landscape at the collegiate level heighten the challenges and ex citement of this fundam ental
responsibility. Even the basic de cision of what sports to offer, and to whom , requires serious
examination.
The NCAA has a Minimum Sport Sponsorship requirement set for institutions to be considered a
Division I NCAA Institution. Di vision I athletic departments m ust periodically evaluate the
varsity sports it sponsors and make decisions to add, delete and/or expand the sport teams within
the program. Finances, faciliti es, gender equity, liability, st udent body interest and general
community interest are all s ignificant factors in the sport m ake-up of both the NCAA and its
member institutions. Therefore, an awareness of the athletic landscape in Am erican society and
the knowledge of sport dem ands in our particular communities are critical to the success of
NCAA and institutional sport sponsorship.
Triathlon is a growing Olym pic sport in our society that m ay prove to be a popular and viable
athletic opportunity for many collegiate institutions to consider in their efforts to meet th e needs
of their constituents and comply with the requ irements of the NCAA. Participa tion numbers in
the sport of Triathlon are growing every year. The popularity of this relatively young sport,
matched with the comprehensive athletic talent that is s howcased by competitive triathletes,
make Triathlon an in teresting sport to rev iew and consider as the next sport on the NCAA’s
Emerging Sport List.
The objectives of this proposal are to introduce th e NCAA to the sport of Tr iathlon and critically
analyze the feasibility of proposing Triathlon as an NCAA Em erging Sport. The proposal will
begin by highlighting the popularity, dem ographics, and established organization of United
States of Am erica Triathlon (USAT), which currently c onducts a Collegiate National
Championship event for college clu b teams. It will then re view the NCAA’s minimum sport
requirements, Emerging Sport para meters, and Title IX basics tha t NCAA athletic departm ents
must satisfy to conduct thriving, compliant programs.
21
Triathlon
Triathlon is defined as a three-part sports discipline comprised of swimming, cycling and
running. The three sports are contested as a continuous event without a rest.
History
Triathlon history dates back to the early 1970s and originated with the San Diego Track Club.
Triathlon was designed to be an alternative to hard track training. The first triathlon event was
held on September 25th 1974. The San Diego Track Club sponsored the event, then comprised of
a 10km run, 8km cycle and 500 meter swim. Conceived and directed by Jack Johnstone and Don
Shanahan, the first Mission Bay Triathlon had 46 athletes.
In 1989, the sport was awarded Olympic status and was featured for the first time at the 2000
Sydney Olympics in Australia. Since then, the sport has grown in popularity.
In 1989, the International Triathlon Union (ITU) was founded in Avignon, France, and the first
official world championships were held.
USA Triathlon (USAT)
USA Triathlon is the national governing body for the sports of triathlon, duathlon,
aquathlon and winter triathlon in the United States and falls under the umbrellas of
the International Triathlon Union and the U.S. Olympic Committee.
USA Triathlon coordinates grass-roots and elite multi-sport events across the country and works
to create interest and participation in those programs. USA Triathlon also writes the competition
rules and trains the officials for the races.
USA Triathlon is the owner of the USA Triathlon National Age Group Championships and the
National Collegiate Championships for triathlon.
Triathlon Distances
Sprint
Swim: 750 meters
Bike: 20K (12.4 miles)
Run: 5K (3.1 miles)
Long Course (aka “Half-Ironman”)
Swim: 1.2 miles
Bike: 56 miles
Run: 13.1 miles
Intermediate / Olympic*
Swim: 1500 meters
Bike: 40K (24.8 Miles)
Run: 10K (6.2 miles)
Ultra Distance (aka “Ironman”)
Swim: 2.4 miles
Bike: 112 miles
Run: 26.2 miles
*The official distance for Olympic triathlon: This standard distance is used for the ITU
World Cup series and for the USA-Triathlon National Collegiate Championships.
USAT Sanctioned Competitive Events
2006: 2000
2008: 2804
2007: 2300
2009: 3115
2010: 3574
2011: 4334
22
2012: 4019
Triathlon(continued)
2012 USAT Total Membership Activity
(Annual + One Day Memberships)
Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 Total 122,388 146,685 181,042 193,262 230,294 262,703 293,663 336,356 342,201 441,060 461,008 483,602 550,446 Total Growth % 19.85% 23.42% 6.75% 19.16% 14.07% 11.79% 14.54% 1.74% 28.89% 4.52% 4.90% 13.82% Breakdown of 2012 USAT Annual Membership per Age Group
Age Groups 6 and Under 7‐8 9‐10 11‐12 13‐15 16‐19 20‐24 25‐29 30‐34 35‐39 40‐44 45‐49 50‐54 55‐59 60‐64 65‐69 70‐74 75‐79 80+ Unspecified Totals Total Total % Male 1,234 0.90% 749
4,055 2.96% 2172
6,218 4.54% 3196
5,037 3.68% 2547
4,221 3.08% 2382
2,938 2.15% 1838
4,532 3.31% 2,800
9,856 7.20% 5,903
14,958 10.93% 9,103
19,188 14.02% 12,272
22,917 16.74% 15,156
17,584 12.85% 11,669
12,312 9.00% 8,215
6,607 4.83% 4,636
3,066 2.24% 2,324
1,413 1.03% 1,154
504 0.37% 423
142 0.10% 123
49 0.04% 46
40 0.03% 27
136,871 100.00% 86,735
Male % Female
60.70%
485
53.56%
1,883
51.40%
3,022
50.57%
2,490
56.43%
1,839
62.56%
1,100
61.78%
1732
59.89%
3953
60.86%
5855
63.96%
6916
66.13%
7761
66.36%
5915
66.72%
4097
70.17%
1971
75.80%
742
81.67%
259
83.93%
81
86.62%
19
93.88%
3
67.50%
13
63.37% 50,136
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Female % 39.30% 46.44% 48.60% 49.43% 43.57% 37.44% 38.22% 40.11% 39.14% 36.04% 33.87% 33.64% 33.28% 29.83% 24.20% 18.33% 16.07% 13.38% 6.12% 32.50% 36.63% Triathlon (continued)
Approximate Education Range of USAT Multisport Athletes
Completed high school only
7%
Two-year school
7%
Four-year school
40%
Graduate school
28%
Post graduate
18%
Approximate Household Income of USAT Multisport Athletes
Under-$50,000
12.9%
$50-$74,999
14.5%
$75-$99,999
16%
$100-$149,000
23.4%
$150-$199,999
12.1%
$200-$299,999
8.4%
Over $300K
5.5%
Average income of USAT Membership = $126,000
Ironman World Championship Economics
 In 1978, Valerie Silk, original owner of the Ironman World Championship paid a graphic
designer $75 to produce the famous “M-Dot”
mark.
 In 1989, Silk sold Ironman to James Gills for
$3 million.
 In September of 2008, Providence Equity
Partners purchased World Triathlon Corp for an estimated $80 million. WTC stages or
licenses rights to 53 Ironman and half-Ironman (70.3) distance events annually.
 According to World Triathlon, licensed Ironman products, including races, accounted for
$500 million in sales in 2007.
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Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential
Popularity and Participation
The participation growth in the sport of Triathlon in the United Sates may be reaching relevant
levels that cause NCAA athletic administrators to take notice. The research numbers on Triathlon
generated by the United States Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association are staggering.
The SGMA conducts surveys of the U.S. population to see how many people are participating in
what sports and how often. They do this for sporting good stores and equipment / apparel
manufacturers so they can see what products sell best in the market.
In 2011, The SGMA figures show that an estimated 1,992,000 individuals participated in at least
one triathlon, representing a 17% growth from 2010 (1,702,000)
Triathlon has gained significant
credibility and exposure since its Olympic
Sport debut at the 2000 Sydney Olympics
in Australia. Since then, the sport has
grown in popularity on its own merit.
However, USAT Annual Membership
numbers clearly show that the majority of
USAT annual members commit to the
sport in their post-college years.
Pinehurst Triathlon: Pinehurst, NC
Currently, opportunities to participate in organized team triathlon at the collegiate level are limited
to those institutions that offer triathlon as a club sport.
The lack of formal team participation opportunities at the collegiate level may attribute to the low
USAT membership numbers in the pre-college age groups. Most high school athletes (and
younger) participate in main-stream sports that offer opportunities to continue their participation at
the collegiate level, and in most cases, also put forward the attraction of scholarships.
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Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential (continued)
USAT Collegiate Triathlon Association
For those athletes who do find the sport of Tr iathlon in their precollege and college years, the sport is proving to be extremely popular.
The rapid em ergence of organized, competitive club tea ms at the
collegiate level has prompted the USAT to develop the Collegiate Triathlon Association (CTA).
The CTA governs the sport of triathlon for co
llege and university athl etes and provides the
leadership to expand the growth of the sport on college campuses across the country.
The primary responsibility of the USAT and the CTA is to hosts the USAT Collegiate National
Championships every April.
2013 Collegiate National Championships (Tempe, Arizona)
Total Participants: 1,015
Females: 404 (40.5%)
Males: 595 (59.5%)
Collegiate Institutions Represented: 108
(*85 collegiate clubs included a women’s team)
Men’s and Women’s Olympic Distance Races were webstreamed live on usatriathlon.org
 6,527 live views
 40 minutes average view time
Current USAT National Championship Team Scoring (Gender Specific) *
Team Score is determined for teams with at least (4) registered starting athletes by adding top (4)
scores from their team in the Olympic race [501- place = score] with the top (1) score from the
Collegiate Draft Legal [51 – place = score). The highest Team score will win the Team
Competition. In case of a tie, the team with the best-placed finisher in the Olympic race wins.
2013 College Female Team Results (Combine Olympic Distance Score + Draft Legal Score)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
University of California, Berkeley
University of Colorado, Boulder
US Military Academy at West Point
UCLA
US Naval Academy
United States Air Force Academy
University of Arizona
Cal Poly
Texas A&M
University of Wisconsin, Madison
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
University of California, Santa Barbara
The Ohio State University
University of Minnesota
Stanford University
University of Virginia
University of Iowa
Clemson University
*17 of 85 women’s teams raced in both the Olympic Distance and Draft Legal Races, which
was a requirement for team scoring
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Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential (continued)
The USAT Collegiate C lub National Championship participation numbers are impressive considering
the athletes are members of club teams and must organize themselves to travel and compete.
Recent coordination within groups of universities indicates demand for organization at the collegiate
level may be growing faster than the USAT can accommodate. On February 24th, 2006 a coalition of
collegiate triathlon teams from California and Nevada announced their creation of the first collegiate
triathlon conference in the United States. The West Coast Collegiate Triathlon Conference (WCCTC)
serves as the official governing body for collegiate triathlon among West Coast schools.
“The WCCTC was the first legitimate organization to provide a well-defined structure for
intercollegiate competition in the history of the sport,” says Marcus George, president of the UCLA
Triathlon Team and one of the WCCTC’s founders. “USA Triathlon hosts the annual collegiate
National Championship, but one race per year is not adequate to support this growing segment of the
sport. The purpose of the WCCTC is to develop collegiate triathlon by providing an opportunity for
athletes to race among their peers at reasonable prices throughout a season. An official season with
team and individual rankings will encourage participation by teams across our region.”
The WCCTC has a Competition Guide which lays out the conference structure, rules, and bylaws.
Nine other collegiate conferences have followed suit in the desire for organized triathlon competition
at the collegiate level. A list of Collegiate Triathlon Conferences includes:
Florida
MidAtlantic
Mideast
Midwest
Mountain
Northeast
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Northwest Southeast
South
Midwest
West
Coast
Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential (continued)
Collegiate Triathlon Clubs (Registered with the USAT) Arizona State University Louisiana State University University of California, Davis Auburn University University of California, Irvine Bates College Triathlon Club Louisiana State University‐Shreveport Louisiana Tech University Baylor Triathlon Club Marquette University University of California, San Diego Bentley Triathlon Team Mercer Atlanta Tri Club University of California, Santa Barbara Boise State University Triathlon Club Miami University Triathlon Club University of California, Santa Cruz Boston University Triathlon Team Bucknell Triathlon Club (Bucknell University) Michigan State University Triathlon Club University of Central Florida Middle Tennessee State University University of Chicago Triathlon Club Cal Poly Triathlon Team Minnesota State University Triathlon Club California State University, Long Beach California State University, Northridge Mississippi State University Triathlon Club University of Colorado, Boulder University of Colorado, Colorado Springs MIT Triathlon Club University of Connecticut Triathlon Team California State University, San Marcos New Mexico State University Centenary College North Carolina State University North Georgia College & State University University of Dayton Triathlon Club University of Delaware Tri Club Central Michigan University Chico State Triathlon Club Clemson Triathlon Club (Clemson University) Cleveland State University Triathlon Club Coastal Carolina University Northeastern University Triathlon Team University of California, Los Angeles University of Florida Tri‐Gators University of Georgia Northern Arizona University University of Illinois Northwestern University Triathlon Club University of Iowa Coe College Triathlon Team Ohio State University Ohio University Triathlon Club College of Southern Idaho Colorado College Triathlon Oklahoma State University Triathlon Club Old Dominion University Triathlon Club Colorado School of Mines Triathlon Club Oregon State University Triathlon Club Colorado State University Triathlon Club Penn State Triathlon Club University of Michigan Triathlon Team University of Minnesota Triathlon Team Columbia University Triathlon Concordia University‐Irvine Pepperdine University Triathlon Club University of Missouri Purdue University Triathlon Club Dartmouth College Triathlon Club Rice University Triathlon Club University of Montana Triathlon Club University of Nebraska Lincoln Triathlon Club Drake University Triathlon Club Rose‐Hulman Triathlon Club University of North Carolina at Charlotte Drexel University Triathlon Team Rutgers University Triathlon Team Sacramento State Triathlon Team University of North Carolina, Wilmington University of North Florida San Diego State University Triathlon Club Santa Barbara City College University of North Texas Eckerd College Embry Riddle Aeronautical University Tri Club Emory University Triathlon SMU Triathlon Club Sonoma State University Triathlon Club University of South Carolina Triathlon Club University of South Florida Emporia State University Multisport Club Spring Hill College University of Southern California) Florida Gulf Coast University St. Mary's University of San Antonio University of Tennessee Florida International University St. Olaf Triathlon Club Florida State University Stanford Triathlon Club Stevens Institute of Technology University of Texas at Arlington Triathlon Club University of Texas, Tyler Multisport Club Duke Triathlon Club University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire University of Louisiana at Monroe University of Maryland University of Massachusetts‐Amherst University of Miami Tri Canes University of Pittsburgh Florida Tech Tri Panthers Fresno State Triathlon Club Syracuse University Triathlon Club University of Vermont Triathlon Club Furman Triathlon Club (Furman University) TCU Tri Frogs University of Washington George Mason University Triathlon Club Texas A & M Triathlon Team University of Wisconsin, La Crosse Tri Club University of Virginia Triathlon Club Georgetown University Triathlon Team Texas State University Triathlon Club University of Wisconsin, Madison Triathlon Georgia State University Triathlon Club Texas Tech University Triathlon Team University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee Georgia Tech Triathlon Club Grand Valley State Triathlon Team Texas Triathlon The College of William and Mary Virginia Commonwealth University University of Wyoming Triathlon Club Hartwick College Multi‐Sport The George Washington University Tri Team Virginia Military Institute Illinois State University UNC‐Chapel Hill Triathlon Club Virginia Tech Triathlon Iowa State University United States Air Force Academy Triathlon Team Washington University in St. Louis James Madison University Triathlon Club Johns Hopkins University United States Coast Guard Academy Weber State University Triathlon Club United States Naval Academy Triathlon Team Kalamazoo College Triathlon Club University of Alabama West Point Triathlon Club Westmont Triathlon Team Lafayette College Triathlon Club University of Alabama, Birmingham) Williams College triathlon Club Liberty University Triathlon Club University of Arizona Xavier Triathlon Lock Haven University Triathlon Club University of California, Berkeley Yale Triathlon Club 28
Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential (continued)
Each conference season is composed of races organized by several university teams. These races
are also open to the public and often used as fundraisers for the host team. The public is
encouraged to support collegiate triathlon by participating in these races.
An example of the s erious
advancement of triathlon at
the collegiate level h as come
from The Univers ity of
California
Los Angeles’
Triathlon Club as they are
providing
scholarship
programs for Triathletes.
Their scholarship progra m
offers support, resources and
expertise to talented triathletes
who wish to develop their athletic ability while completing a first class education.
The athletes attend m any of the local SoCal ev ents including the Los Angeles Triathlon, Malibu
Triathlon and new Playa Del Rey Triathlon, which is a benefit race for the UCLA and USC teams.
They will be targeting success in the WCCTC, the USAT Collegiate National Championships, and
USAT Age Group National Championships.
The scholarship provides each athlete with a pe rsonal coaching program, which includes regular
lactate testing and video analysis. They are supported with regular physical therapy treatment from
Pro Physical Therapy, receive pro b ike fits and a full package of equipm ent including: nutritio n
products from PowerBar, Xterra wetsuits, eyewear and helmets fr om Rudy Project and Powertap
powermeters. They will also receive a race expense budget.
The UCLA team has grown from just a handf ul of members to a group of 60+ athletes who
regularly train together. Each week the team has between six to nine hours of coached workouts
and each athlete does more trainin g on th eir own. UCLA now has a perform ance development
program and adm inistrative support. Their aim is to attract funding to allow m ore scholarships
with even deeper support for the coming years.
Future plans include building a T riathlon specific training center on campus and continuing to
acquire a vast range of equipment so that everyone who joins the team can train and race at an elite
level.
29
Triathlon: Emerging Sport Potential (continued)
Gender Equity Approach
In 1994, The NCAA Gender-Equity Task force com piled the original list of em erging sports for
women. The original sports on the list were:
Archery
Badminton
Bowling*
Rowing*
Ice Hockey*
Squash
Synchronized Swimming
Team Handball
Water Polo*
* Have become NCAA championship sports.
In 1999, Equestrian was added to the list, as was Rugby in 2002.
Over the years, the Committee on Women’s Athletics has adjusted the emerging sports list
with recommendations to both add and remove sports from the list. The CWA recommended
including sand volleyball to the NCAA Emerging Sports List. On the subtraction side, the
CWA has removed archery, badminton, synchronized swimming, team handball and squash
from the Emerging Sports List as the sports did not shown steady growth over the last 10
years. They all have fewer than 10 sponsoring institutions which is the number required to be
considered an emerging sport.
Current Emerging Sport List:
1. Sand Volleyball
2. Equestrian
3. Rugby
Athletic departments are expected to provide gender equitable programs. If placed on the NCAA
Emerging Sport List, a popular sport like Triathlon can be a valuable resource for institutions
creating opportunities for women. The emerging sport may prove to be a popular and efficient
way of strengthening gender equity, fiscal support, and sport sponsorships within an athletic
program.
30
The Importance of Triathlon
It is our job as professional athletic administrators to provide quality opportunities to enjoy
organized athletic competition that satisfy the demands and interest of our constituents. By
constituents, I not only mean the student bodies of our institutions, but also our surrounding
communities, fan bases, boosters and sponsorship sources. Athletic programs are not static
entities. Therefore, like any other thriving service organization, the success and popularity of our
programs can be significantly enhanced by demonstrating flexibility and adapting to change.
Going one step further, paying attention to the landscape of sports in our communities is crucial
to forecasting legitimate and relevant participation opportunities that will establish the true
quality of service our programs provide for our institutions.
Triathlon’s popularity is growing in our society at an incredible rate every year. It is establishing
roots on university campuses all across the country while simultaneously creating a more
organized regulatory structure because of the high demand for organized, competitive events.
Adoption of Triathlon as an NCAA Emerging Sport may be an efficient, quick and organized
way of creating popular participation opportunities for a talented and unique group of athletes.
Triathlon as a sport, and the USAT specifically, will benefit
tremendously if Triathlon is added to the NCAA Emerging Sport
list and institutions begin offering scholarships and sponsoring
programs for student athletes who participate in the sport.
Currently, the USAT focuses extensively on age group athletes
from the general public as a way to identify and cultivate talent for
their elite programs. This model is only effective to a point in
driving the elite end of the sport on the international level. The
United States has never won an Olympic gold medal in a sport it
created. In fact, the US has never won a medal of any kind in the
men’s Olympic event. USAT needs to support programs that bring
the best athletes to the sport.
NCAA adoption will establish the foundation for such an effort
Gwen Jorgensen
US Pro Triathlete / Univ. of Wisconsin Graduate
by increasing the number of youth athletes exposed to, and
interested in, Triathlon. Talented, well rounded triathletes under
the age of 19 (not just post graduate collegiate swimmers or runners trying to convert to
triathlon) will begin to surface as potential “Elite Triathletes” because of the added legitimacy of
being a collegiate athlete. Triathlon would experience a similar interest and participation
phenomena as rowing, a sport that has successfully graduated from the ranks of Emerging Sports
to a National Collegiate Championship 2001.
The NCAA Emerging Sport status would firmly place Triathlon in the “mainstream” of the
American sport landscape. The participation numbers for youth 16 and under are solid. However,
they drop significantly during the high school years as most athletes concentrate on a mainstream
sports that they continue on with in college. The opportunity to experience a triathlon
competition at the collegiate level while earning a degree would be tremendous motivation for
pre-collegiate youth to continue with the sport. Identifying exceptional talent would be done on a
large scale across the nation by each sponsoring collegiate institution. Cultivating that talent with
professional coaching at prestigious academic institutions would advance the USAT’s goal of
building a stronger elite program and becoming more competitive at the international level.
31
The Importance of Triathlon (continued)
Now that the popularity and importance of Triathlon has been established, we address the
questions of how the NCAA and its’ member institutions take advantage of sponsoring triathlon.
There are potential cost efficiencies that make Triathlon attractive.
1. If an institution has a pool there are minimal facility costs.
a) Run training can be done on a track or open roads.
b) Bike training can be done on stationary trainers or on the open road.
c) Most junior triathletes will enter college with a bike that fits them. Therefore, we are
recommending a bike allowance of $500-$1,000 (rather than a bike) per athlete to
accommodate bike equipment upgrades if necessary.
d) Hosting a regular season collegiate Triathlon in conjunction with a race open to the
general public can generate significant funds for the program through registration
fees and event sponsorships. Participation numbers for local triathlons traditionally
range from 500-1000 participants with registration fees of $50 - $75 per participant.
e) Organizing events for the general public can create attractive fundraising
opportunities for donors who participate in, or simply enjoy, the sport.
Over time, well organized, sport specific training centers could be designed if funds are available
and the goal is to provide the optimal controlled and testable training environment. Amenities
such as multiple lane Endless Pool to simulate open water swimming, Compu-Trainer stationary
bike equipment to simulate riding on the road, and treadmills for run training are extremely
useful and modest ways to enhance the practice facilities for the student athletes.
“Endless Pool” Dual Lane Training
Compu-Trainer Group Training Session
32
The Importance of Triathlon (continued)
Is triathlon a practical and legitimate emerging sport option for NCAA Collegiate athletic
programs looking to create athletic opportunities for women and improve their gender equity
ratio? Will adding Triathlon assist an institution in their effort to fully and effectively
accommodate the interests and abilities of an underrepresented sex on their campus? Sponsoring
the Emerging Sport of Triathlon at any such institutions would improve their participation
proportionality numbers, help prove they demonstrate a history of program expansion for
women, and prove they are effectively accommodating the interest and abilities of females on
campus.
The need for more quality athletic opportunities for women in the NCAA is obvious. USA
Triathlon's female membership has increased from 11 percent in the early 90s, to 36.6 percent at
the end of 2012.
Equally impressive, 411 females, making up 40.5% of the participants, competed in the
2013 USAT Collegiate National Championships.
The NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics manages the Emerging Sport List in order to seek,
expand and promote opportunities for female student-athletes, administrators and coaches.
The Committee also works with the NCAA Olympic Sports Liaison Committee to evaluate if
emerging sports for women can assist the health of established olympic sports in any way.
With Triathlon proving to be a growing and popular olympic sport, supporting the addition of
Triathlon as an emerging sport seems logical.
33
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal
Triathlon Coaches Association:
A fundamental necessity required to become an NCAA Emerging Sport is the establishment of a
Coaches Association. USA Triathlon is the national governing body for the sports of triathlon in
the United States and falls under the umbrellas of the International Triathlon Union and the U.S.
Olympic Committee. USA Triathlon’s main purpose is to coordinate grass-roots and elite multisport events across the country and create interest and participation in those programs. USA
Triathlon also writes the competition rules and trains the officials for the races.
USA Triathlon currently has established a National Coaching Commission which serves in an
advisory capacity to USAT. The Commission works with the USAT Sport Performance Director
and staff for USA Triathlon’s coaching certification and education programs. This group and
structure provides a solid foundation upon which to build a collegiate coaches association. USAT National Coaching Commission:
Mission Statement: The mission of the National Coaching Commission is to 1. Promote professionalism in multisport coaching and 2. Advise USAT staff regarding coach education The role of the National Coaches Commission includes such issues as:  Advancement of coaches and their knowledge  Coaching associations  The rights and interests of USAT coaches  Development of a program of ongoing enrichment programs such as national and
international conferences  Appointing USOC coaches and development coaches of the year  Annual meeting to share ideas, concerns  Available pool of qualified coaches to work on projects with the USAT staff  Newsletter opportunities (knowledge and writing) Membership Qualifications and Operation Principles: NCC member coaches: 










Are USAT Certified Coaches Have previous or current multisport coaching experience, minimum of two years Are willing to contribute between five and 10 hours to NCC projects each month Commit to active participation in NCC email discussions by checking inbox items
every 48 hours, at minimum, during the weekdays. NCC members will look for
new messages each Monday Notify the NCC team if they will be out of the office for extended periods of time Are willing to commit to helping the NCC produce results by taking project
leadership roles or by volunteering for working group tasks on project teams Are willing to commit to completing projects by mutually agreed-upon due dates Are committed to working in a positive, unified way with other NCC members
and USAT staff and coaches Are willing to attend an NCC meeting annually or semi-annually May not be full-time employees of USA Triathlon Must be a U.S. resident 34
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (continued)
Regular Season:
Open Water Swim:
(Swim: 600m – 1K / Bike: 20K – 30K / Run: 4K – 6K)
Pool Swim:
Team Invitational Event (2-3 Teams):
(Swim: 600m – 1K / Bike: 20K – 30K / Run: 4K – 6K)
Team Relay Event (2-16 Teams): Each member of the relay team completes a full swim/bike/run
(Swim: 300m / Bike: 10K / Run: 2K)
NCAA Championship Event:
Open Water Swim:
(Swim: 600m – 1K / Bike: 20K – 30K / Run: 4K – 6K)
NCAA Triathlon Regions
(Mirror Current USAT Regional Collegiate Conferences)
Florida
MidAtlantic
Mideast
Midwest
Mountain
Northeast
Northwest
Southeast
South
Midwest
West
Coast
Regional Championships (If Necessary)
Date: Final Saturday in October
All teams are eligible for their respective Regional Championships
NCAA Triathlon National Championships
Date: First Saturday in November
Determination of Participants:
Championship Format
The Division I Triathlon Championships provide for a maximum of 16 (five person) teams and
ten (10) individuals.
Teams: Ten (10) teams automatically qualify to the championship event by finishing as the top
team in a regional races. The remaining six (6) at-large teams are selected by the NCAA
Division I triathlon subcommittee.
Individuals: Ten (10) additional individuals are selected at-large by the committee.
Total Competitors Total = 90
16 teams of (5) five persons each = 80
Individuals (who are not members of a team) = 10
Qualifying Procedures
To be eligible to participate in an NCAA Triathlon Championship, teams must qualify from their
respective regions (see list above) additional individuals are selected at-large by the committee
35
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (continued)
Team Scoring Point System: Modeled after cross country scoring (lowest score wins)
- All triathletes who finish a race shall be given an overall-finish place. However, only the first
three (3) on any one team may be used in scoring places.
- An order for team-finish placing is established by removing all triathletes behind the top three
(3) finishers on each team. (Teams not finishing at least three likewise shall not be included in
the order of team finish.)
- Score shall be determined by total points of first three triathletes of each team to finish.
- The team scoring the lowest number of points shall be the winner.
a. Although the (4th) fourth and (5th) fifth triathlete of a team to finish do not score points
toward their team’s total, their places, if better than those of any of the first three of an
opposing team, serve to increase the team score of the opponents.
36
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (FAQ)
Is There Support at the Youth Level for the Sport of Triathlon?
USA Triathlon currently has a robust support program for Youth Elite (middle school) and
Junior (high school age) athletes.
 National event series in the draft-legal Olympic format.

National Rankings for Youth Elite (13-15 years old) and Junior Elite (16-19 ys old).

National and Regional Select Camps for top triathletes to develop their skills for
international competition.

Local and Regional Skills Camps for developing triathletes to learn tactics and develop
sound fundamentals.

Regional Athlete Development Coordinators (RADCs) who serve as regional support
coaches and mentors.

International Junior Athlete Assistance program that supports junior age athletes to
international competitions including the International Triathlon Union World
Championships.

Online database called the Athlete Profiler for athletes to submit their information,
including best times and race results, for personal reference and recruitment by USA
Triathlon to national programs.
Are There Post-Collegiate Professional Opportunities in Triathlon?
In the Olympic format of racing, the International Triathlon Union holds three levels of
competition offering various levels of prize money to professional athletes. These levels are:
Continental Cup, World Cup, and World Championship Series. The Continental Cup events are
entry level professional events where athletes can earn points towards qualification for World
Cup and World Championship Series events. The World Cup is an intermediate step to the
World Championship Series and offers more competitive fields and more prize money. The
World Championship Series events are essentially Olympic level competition and qualify
athletes for the Olympic Games.
USA Triathlon provides funding and support through the National Teams program for athletes
competing in Olympic format ITU racing.
Other opportunities for professional competition exist for post-collegiate athletes outside of the
Olympic format as well. These include Olympic distance non-drafting domestic racing, half
(70.3) and full Ironman events and Duathlon (a run-bike-run event).
37
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (FAQ) (continued)
Will Triathletes be “Cross Over” Athletes Competing in Other Varsity Sports?
Currently, many national and international class triathletes who are of college age are “crossover” athletes, meaning they compete for their university or college running or swimming team
during the school year and in Olympic-format triathlon competitions during the summer. These
athletes prove that it is physically possible to cross over from single to multi-sports successfully.
However, the talents and skill set of elite triathletes make them truly unique athletes worthy of
experiencing specific competition opportunities separate from those that already exist within the
NCAA.
With the proposed triathlon season placed in the fall, collegiate triathletes could participate on/
be a member of the swim team or indoor track team in the winter, and/or the outdoor track and
field team in the spring if deemed appropriate by the coaching staffs and athletic administration
at the institution.
The creation of NCAA scholarships for Triathlon would allow national caliber athletes to focus
full time on the sport of triathlon during the important development years in college and provide
a nurturing environment for them to excel as triathletes, competitive collegiate athletes, and
potentially Olympians.
Will Triathletes Adhere to 20 hrs / Week Limit?
The Typical training volume for a collegiate triathlete, in season, would be comfortably under 20
hours per week, and usually never exceed 3.5 hours in one day. A typical week of
workouts/competition/travel, during the season, would resemble the following:
Day
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday
Sunday
TOTAL:
Countable
Hours
Description
3.5
3.5
3.5
2.5
2
3
0
Swim emphasis. Transition practice: Bike/Run emphasis
Active recovery with swimming, weights, stretching
Intense multi-sport practice: Swim / Run emphasis
Recovery Day: Light weights, stretch & group bike
Travel Day: Pre-event Travel / Course Reconnaissance
Competition Day
Rest Day
18
The typical training volume for an elite triathlete competing internationally in Olympic format
racing is normally about 20 hours per week. Some athletes choose to do additional stretching,
yoga, recovery (massage, ice bath, etc.), or other complementary activities in addition to the
swimming, cycling, running and strength training that may exceed 20 total hours on some weeks.
Usually the athletes exceeding 20 total hours per week are those who have been in the sport for
many years and are typically post-collegiate professional athletes.
38
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (FAQ) (continued)
What are the Financial Implications of Operating a Triathlon Program?
(See Supplement #1)
What facilities are required to host a collegiate event?
1. Swim Course:
Open body of water: Sanitary body of water large e nough to accommodate a multiple
looped swim course. Minimum length of loop is 300 meters.
Pool (regular season invitational/relay may use pools)
2. Bike course:
a. Draft Legal: Road circuit com pletely closed to traffic and able to accomm odate a
multiple loop course.
i. Minimum length of circuit
1. Less than 50 competitors= 5 kilometer minimum
2. 50-90 Competitors= 6 kilometer minimum
b. Non Draft Legal: Road circu it closed to traffic and able to accommodate a course of
no more than two loops based on the total distance of the bike leg.
3. Run course closed to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic that can accommodate a multiple loop
course.
a. Minimum length of circuit
i. Draft Legal (Varsity)- 2 kilometers
b. Non Draft Legal (Novice)- able to accommodate a course of no more than two loops
based on the total distance of the run leg.
4. Transition Area: transition area capable of handling up to 90 athletes per race with a length
of 250’ and width of 24’ and no more than 200 meters from the swim exit
39
Triathlon: An Emerging Sport Proposal (FAQ) (continued)
Are There Triathlon Uniform Requirements and Specifications?
Uniform Purpose: Provide a clean and professional image of the sport to the represented
universities/colleges, spectators and media. Each team will be clearly identifiable with
school colors and logos. Athletes must comply with the uniform rules in order to
compete. The rules are similar to those enforced by the International Triathlon Union
(ITU) the international governing body.
General Requirements: One piece uniforms are preferred. If a two piece uniform is
used, the space between the top and the bottom may not be visible, so the two pieces
overlap. The athlete must cover their torso for all aspects of the race. Zippers must be on
the back and will be a maximum of 30cm. Front zippers are not allowed. The uniform
must be attached at both shoulders for the duration of the competition. The athlete’s
university/college must be identifiable on the upper front of the uniform. The athlete’s
family name must also be located on the upper front and on the buttock of the uniform.
The font type must be “Arial” and minimum of 5cm in height. Letters for the family
name should be upper case unless it is more than 9 letters when lower case letters should
be used for spacing purposes. Athletes are allowed to have up to four logos on the front
and one on the back of their uniforms. There is no restriction on the type of logo used in
these spaces.
What are Expected Event Costs / Logistics for Triathlon Events?
(See Supplement #2 for Sample Event Cost)
Event Logistics: In terms of costs related to th e event, each venue is unique. Attached is
a list of items that may or may not be necessary (depending on the venue) for each event.
Costs do vary which is why we would reco mmend each co llegiate event coord inate an
additional “open” community triathlon for USAT Age Group Competitors and Collegiate
Club teams. This additional revenue generating event on the sam e, or similar, course as
the collegiate elites would allow the organi zer to generate more revenue through entry
fees and sponsorship to offset the required costs of the event.
Are There Amateurism Concerns Inherent to Triathlon?
Elite Collegiate License
The USAT has a licensing system already
in place to reduce s ituations that m ay
potentially affect a collegiate a thlete’s amateur status and eligibility. The USAT’s Elite
Collegiate License is available an d recommended for current or soon to be NCAA
athletes who: qualify as a USAT Elite Athlete; want to compete in elite events sanctioned
by USAT to gain experience; and do not want to jeopardize their NCAA eligibility. With
the license, these athletes are NOT eligible for prize money but may race when it offered.
Elite annual m embership is available to certain qualifi ed, highly com petitive, and
experienced athletes w ho meet the qualifica tions respective to the ir license ca tegory.
Only athletes holding an elite licen se are eligible to com pete in the elite wave of any
USAT sanctioned event that offers a
minimum prize purse of $5,000. The Elite
Collegiate License would enable a scholarship athlete to compete in such events without
jeopardizing their amateur status and eligibility. The terms "elite" and "professional" are
used interchangeably but USAT pref ers that th ese athletes be referred to as "elites " to
align with ITU and USOC.
40
Emerging Sports Backgrounder
When the NCAA accepted the report of its Gender-Equity Task Force in 1994, one of
the recommendations was the creation of the list of emerging sports for women, which
provided incentive to the membership to explore new sports and attempted to identify
potential NCAA championship sports. An emerging sport is a women’s sport recognized by the
NCAA that is intended to help schools provide more athletics opportunities for women and help sports
achieve NCAA championship status at an accelerated pace. Institutions are allowed to use emerging
sports to help meet the NCAA minimum sports-sponsorship requirements and also to meet the NCAA’s
minimum financial aid awards. Sports do not have to be NCAA championship or emerging sports to be
varsity, nor does such status mean the institution’s conduct of the sport meets Office for Civil Rights or
Title IX standards for varsity sports.
Nine sports were on that first list. In the past 16 years, four have become championship sports, while others have been added to or removed from the list. Women’s rowing, which became a National Collegiate championship in 1997 and split into championships for each division in 2002, has seen the most growth — and had the longest
time to see the impact of NCAA recognition. Women’s ice hockey and women’s water
polo, which both earned NCAA championship status in the 2000-01 season, have
experienced growth, too. Women’s bowling, a championship sport since 2003-04, is
expected to see sponsorship numbers rise even higher in the upcoming season. Each
of those sports has grown and succeeded uniquely. The NCAA Emerging Sports for Women’s
web page can be found at: http://www.ncaa.org/wps/ncaa?ContentID=40539
The process of becoming an emerging sport calls for self-identification and motivation by schools, national governing bodies and participants to promote the sport as varsity. Ten NCAA-member institutions’
presidents and athletics directors must support the sport as varsity for it to be reviewed by the association-wide NCAA Committee on Women’s Athletics (CWA) as a potential NCAA emerging sport. The CWA
is charged with managing the emerging sports for women process.
• If an activity meets the definition of a sport (see next bullet point) a proposal and 10 supporting letters are submitted to the CWA. The proposal must include documentation/supporting
information that demonstrates that the sport meets the criteria received by the CWA when assessing the viability of the sport.
• The definition of a sport is: an institutional activity involving physical exertion with the purpose
of competition versus other teams or individuals within a collegiate competition structure. Furthermore, sport includes regularly scheduled team and/or individual, head-to-head competition (at least five) within a defined competitive season(s); and standardized rules with rating/
scoring systems ratified by official regulatory agencies and governing bodies. Support from the
Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights for the activity meeting their definition of a
sport is helpful to the committee and membership.
• NCAA bylaws governing emerging sports require sponsorship levels to reach the championship minimum of 40 within 10 years or show steady progress in growth. Bylaw 20 lists emerging
sports and describes how a sport is removed from the list.
• Criteria addressed in the proposal must address the following:
• There must be 20 or more varsity teams and/or competitive club teams that currently exist
on college campuses in that sport.
• Other data exists that demonstrates support for the sport. For example:
• Collegiate recreation and intramural sponsorship.
41
• High-school sport sponsorship.
• Nonscholastic competitive programs.
• Association and organization support.
• U.S. Olympic Committee support (E.g., classified as an Olympic sport,
National Governing Body support, grants).
• Conference interest in sports sponsorship.
• Coaches Association support.
• Professional sports support.
• There is demonstrated understanding that once identified as an emerging sport, all NCAA
institutions wishing to sponsor the sport at the varsity level must abide by all NCAA regulations, which include limits on playing and practice seasons, recruiting regulations and
student-athlete eligibility.
• Emerging-sport proposals must include information on general competition rules, suggested
NCAA regulations (e.g., playing and practice season, financial aid limits, coaching limits, recruiting) and format for the sport (e.g., expected facility requirements and costs, minimum and maximum competitions).
• In addition to the proposal, 10 letters of commitment must be submitted by member institutions that sponsor or intend to sponsor the sport as a varsity sport and include the signatures
of the president and the athletics director of those institutions. Additionally, the letters must be
dated within one year of the submission of the proposal and letters, unless a specific exception
is granted by the committee.
Current emerging sports for women include: Equestrian (Divisions I and II), Rugby, and Sand Volleyball
(Divisions I and II).
In the summer of 2007, CWA requested that four sports on the list which showed low sponsorship and
little or no growth go through the process of finding ten school commitments in order to remain on
the list. These sports had the following NCAA varsity sponsors: archery - 1, badminton - 2, synchronized
swimming - 8 and team handball – 0. None of these sports were able to find more than six schools committed to varsity status on their campus, and each was dropped from the list of emerging sports for
women through legislative change adopted by each division and effective August 1, 2009. A sport not
on the list can still be treated as varsity and considered in the athletic department’s equity planning. A
sport taken off the list can seek emerging sport status again by submitting a proposal and 15 letters of
commitment signed by school presidents and athletics directors, if at least 12 months has passed since
the sport was removed TOfrom the list. Squash also passed the ten-year mark on the list as it was one of
the original nine. The sport had 28 NCAA varsity programs but CWA saw no further action by the squash
national governing body to respond to requests for information about contact with emerging sports and
use of grant funds. As a result of failure to reach 40 sponsors or show steady progress, CWA requested
that each division remove squash from the emerging list. That change was effective August 2011.
The sport of Triathlon has submitted a proposal approved by the CWA. The sport is working to gather the
required ten letters from NCAA presidents and athletics directors. The committee is also supportive of a
legislative proposal to allow NCAA schools to compete in rugby seven’s and/or the current 15’s. Both recommendations are expected to be presented to all three NCAA divisions for the 2013-14 legislative cycle.
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2013 Triathlon National Collegiate News
\To view the full program for the event — http://online.publicationprinters.com/
launch.aspx?eid=db2fa553-506f-49b9-8a53-6c2bb0733710
Live streaming of Collegiate Nationals in Tempe [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gJyxg3ItrE ]
-
6,527 views on Saturday, April 13
-
Average view time was over 40 minutes
-
Nearly 1,000 replays since Saturday
Kanute, Jones Claim Draft-Legal Titles at USA Triathlon
Collegiate Nationals
April 12, 2013 by USA Triathlon
Race action continues Saturday at Tempe Beach Park
TEMPE, Ariz. — Ben Kanute from the University of Arizona and Erin Jones from the University
of Colorado Colorado Springs were victorious in the debut of the Draft-Legal Collegiate Championship on the first day of action at the 2013 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships at
Tempe Beach Park.
The top returning male from last year’s Olympic-distance event, Kanute logged the fastest swim
and the fastest run to win the 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike, 5-kilometer run sprint-distance
event in 58 minutes, 26 seconds. Luke Farkas of UCCS was second in 58:40 and California’s Yoni
Doron-Peters was third with a time of 59:06.
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Kunute and Purdue’s Ryan Frederickson came out of the water within two seconds of each other
and quickly formed the lead group out of T1. Farkas and Doron-Peters joined the pair by lap three
of the four-lap bike course. Exiting T2, Kanute took control, gaining a solid lead after 2.5k and holding it to the finish.
“It went perfectly,” said Kanute, who is also planning to race for the TriCats on Saturday. “We had a
really good group that worked together and gave us enough time on everybody else. The run just
felt great — I was cruising a little bit, and got to think about tomorrow a little, too.”
Jones was able to showcase her run skills in the women’s race to take the tape in 1:04:00. Cal’s
Erika Erickson was second with a time of 1:04:23 and Johanna Gartman from UCCS was third in
1:04:38.
Representing the Elite Triathlon Academy based at UCCS, Jones exited the water second behind
teammate Avery Evenson. Jones, Erickson and Gartman formed the chase pack and caught up
with Evenson on the final lap of the bike, and the quartet entered T2 together. A former runner at
Oregon State, Jones gained enough distance on Erickson to post the top 5k time for the women
and earn the win.
“I started out with her (Erickson) and she helped me a lot,” Jones said of the run. “I’m so grateful
and humbled to be the first winner of the triathlon here. It’s such an honor, and I’m so proud of my
team.”
Jones’ team, the Elite Triathlon Academy (ETA) combined to grab three of the top-six finishes
Friday. Established in 2011, the ETA is a landmark program which allows athletes to train in Colorado Springs, Colo., and attend college full-time. The podium spots earned by Jones, Farkas and
Gartman demonstrate the successes and strengths of the program and its development of up-andcoming elite athletes.
A total of 72 athletes (44 men, 28 women) crossed the finish line of the draft-legal event, the first
of three races as part of the Collegiate Nationals weekend.
The action continues Saturday as more than 1,000 collegiate triathletes take part in the Olympicdistance championship event, which features a 1,500m swim, 40k bike and 10k run. The men’s
race will start at 7:30 a.m. PDT, followed by the women at 10:50 a.m. A live video stream of this
event will be available on usatriathlon.org, as well as a live blog. Coverage begins at 7 a.m. PDT
(10 a.m. EDT).
The second edition of the Mixed-Team Relay is slated to begin at 4 p.m. Each four-person team
must consist of two females and two males who will complete a super-sprint triathlon before tagging their teammate. All athletes will complete a 250-meter swim, 5k bike and 1.2k run.
Visit usatriathlon.org for more information on Collegiate Nationals.
2013 USA Triathlon Draft-Legal Collegiate Championship
750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run
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Complete Results
Men’s Overall
1. Ben Kanute (Arizona), 58:26
2. Luke Farkas (UCCS), 58:40
3. Yoni Doron-Peters (Cal), 59:06
Women’s Overall
1. Erin Jones (UCCS), 1:04:00
2. Erika Erickson (California), 1:04:23
3. Johanna Gartman (UCCS), 1:04:38
Related Topics
USAT Collegiate National Championship
List of schools
Women’s Teams Competing, April 2013, Tempe USAT Collegiate Nationals (85 total)
Cal Triathlon (University of California Berkeley)
Texas A & M Triathlon Team
Colorado State University Triathlon Club
Duke Triathlon Club (Duke University)
University of Wisconsin Madison Triathlon
UCSB Triathlon Club (University of California Santa Barbara)
San Diego State University Triathlon Club
UC Davis Triathlon (University of California Davis)
The OSU Triathlon Club (Ohio State University)
University of Minnesota Triathlon Team
Michigan State University Triathlon Club
CU Triathlon Team (University of Colorado Boulder)
UGA Triathlon (University of Georgia)
James Madison University Triathlon Club
Boston University Triathlon Team
University of Michigan Triathlon Team
Stanford Triathlon Club (Stanford University)
Fighting Illini Triathlon (University of Illinois)
USC Triathlon (University of Southern California)
Triclones (Iowa State University)
Penn State Triathlon Club
Texas Triathlon (University of Texas at Austin)
West Point Triathlon Club (United States Military Academy at West Point)
University of Virginia Triathlon Club
Triathlon Club at FSU
Tri-Hawks (University of Iowa)
United States Coast Guard Academy
Arizona State University Cycling & Triathlon Club
Liberty University Triathlon Club
Oregon State University Triathlon Club
Clemson Triathlon Club (Clemson University)
NAU TriJacks (Northern Arizona University)
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University of Dayton Triathlon Club
UCLA Triathlon Team (University of California Los Angeles)
Northeastern University Triathlon Team
Texas Tech University Triathlon Team - Red Raiders
Virginia Tech Triathlon
Georgetown University Triathlon Team
University of Miami Tri Canes
UNC-Chapel Hill Triathlon Club
Grand Valley State Triathlon Team
University of Vermont Triathlon Club
NMSU Triathlon Club (New Mexico State University)
CUI Triathlon Team (Concordia University-Irvine)
United States Naval Academy Triathlon Team
Alabama Triathletes (University of Alabama)
Auburn Triathletes (Auburn University)
University of Connecticut Triathlon Team
Baylor Triathlon Club
University of Massachusetts-Amherst Triathlon Club
Purdue University Triathlon Club
NCSU Triathlon Club (North Carolina State University)
University of Arkansas
USF Tri Bulls (University of South Florida)
Olaf Triathlon Club
United States Air Force Academy Triathlon Team
NIU Triathlon Team (Northern Illinois University)
Minnesota State University Triathlon Club
Stevens Triathlon Club (Stevens Institute of Technology)
Oklahoma State University Triathlon Club
Cleveland State University Triathlon Club
University of Montana Triathlon Club
UT Triathlon Club (University of Tennessee)
EC Triathlon Club (Eckerd College)
Texas State University Triathlon Club
Mary’s University of San Antonio)
Tri Cats Triathlon Club (University of Arizona)
Northwestern University Triathlon Club
University of Florida Tri-Gators
UNT Triathlon Team (University of North Texas)
Triathlon Club at the College of William and Mary
Santa Clara Triathlon Club
Triathlon Club at UCI (University of California Irvine)
Triathlon Team of Marquette (Marquette University)
MIT Triathlon Club (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
ISU Triathlon Club (Illinois State University)
UIW
Cal Poly Triathlon Team
Georgia Tech Triathlon Club
LSU Tri Club (Louisiana State University)
Florida Tech Tri Panthers (Florida Institute of Technology)
Xavier Triathlon
California State University of Long Beach Triathlon Team
UCCS Triathlon Club (University of Colorado Colorado Springs)
UC San Diego Triathlon Team (University of California San Diego)
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The Elite Triathlon Academy at UCCS won Saturday’s Mixed-Team Relay. (USA Triathlon)
Colorado Clinches Fourth Consecutive
Collegiate Nationals Team Title
April 13, 2013 by USA Triathlon
Elite Triathlon Academy at University of Colorado Colorado Springs
wins Mixed-Team Relay
TEMPE, Ariz. — Three-time defending champion University of Colorado added another team title to
their collection Saturday at the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships. Colorado also won
the men’s team title and the women’s team award went to California, while the Elite Triathlon Academy
bested the Mixed-Team Relay field.
Colorado scored 3,926 combined points, edging out second-place team California by only two points.
The CU Buffs have been dominant since 2010 and have now taken four consecutive team awards back
to Boulder, Colo. California scored 3,924 points, and UCLA was third with 3,727.
The Colorado men had three finishers in the top eight, scoring 1,986 points for yet another men’s championship. California earned runners-up honors with 1,926 points, and Michigan took third place with
1,897 points.
Erika Erickson and her pair of second-place finishes propelled the California women to the top of the
standings with 1,998 points. Colorado was second with 1,940 and the U.S. Military Academy scored
1,915 for third place.
Erickson also won the combined award for her performances in the Draft-Legal Collegiate Championship on Friday and the Olympic-distance championship on Saturday. Ben Kanute from Arizona locked
up the combined award on men’s side with his back-to-back titles in the individual events. Recaps of
Friday’s draft-legal event and Saturday’s Olympic-distance race are available on usatriathlon.org.
The Elite Triathlon Academy at University of Colorado Colorado Springs was nearly three minutes faster
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than the rest of the field in the Mixed-Team Relay, the final event of the Collegiate Nationals weekend.
Avery Evenson, Luke Farkas, Johanna Gartman and Kevin McDowell combined their talents to finish in
1:06:15. California was second in 1:09:07, and U.S. Naval Academy was third with a time of 1:10:05.
“It was amazing to come out here in this team atmosphere and participate as a team,” McDowell said.
“That’s not always a triathlon thing. You have a team, and you train with them, but to actually finish as
a team and do this altogether when everyone has just as important of a role, it’s just one of the best
things you could ask for.”
In all, 1,015 athletes representing 108 schools competed in the Olympic-distance Collegiate National
Championship, an event that first began in 1994 at the Wildflower Triathlon.
Complete results are available here.
2013 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships
Awards
Draft-Legal Collegiate Championship
Men’s Overall
1. Ben Kanute (Arizona), 58:26
2. Luke Farkas (UCCS), 58:40
3. Yoni Doron-Peters (Cal), 59:06
Women’s Overall
1. Erin Jones (UCCS), 1:04:00
2. Erika Erickson (California), 1:04:23
3. Johanna Gartman (UCCS), 1:04:38
Olympic-Distance National Championship
Men’s Overall
1. Ben Kanute (Arizona), 1:46:36
2. Michael Poole (USF), 1:47:08
3. Alex Libin (Iowa), 1:47:15
4. Rodolphe Von Berg (Colorado),1:47:21
5. Steve Mantell (CSU), 1:47:30
Women’s Overall
1. Michelle Mehnert (Colorado), 2:01:13
2. Erika Erickson (California), 2:02:28
3. Brittany Braden (San Diego State), 2:03:28
4. Christine Jackson (California), 2:03:37”
5. Samantha Morrison (USAFA), 2:03:46
Men’s Combined Award
1. Ben Kanute (Arizona), 550
2. Yoni Doron-Peters (California), 539
3. Ryan Petry (Arizona State), 535
Women’s Combined Award
1. Erika Erickson (California), 548
2. Samantha Morrison (USAFA), 543
3. Lauren Lewis (Texas A&M), 528
Overall Team Standings
1. Colorado, 3,926
2. California, 3,924
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3. UCLA, 3,727
4. U.S. Naval Academy, 3,710
5. Arizona, 3,604
Women’s Team Standings
1. California, 1,998
2. Colorado, 1,940
3. U.S. Military Academy, 1,915
4. UCLA, 1,915
5. U.S. Naval Academy, 1,908
Men’s Team Standings
1. Colorado, 1,986
2. California,1,926
3. Michigan, 1,897
4. Stanford,1,876
5. Iowa, 1,847
Mixed Team Relay
1. University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 1:06:18
2. California Relay A, 1:09:07
3. U.S. Naval Academy, 1:10:05
Armed Services Team Champions: U.S. Naval Academy
Team Spirit Award: University of Southern California
Kanute, Jones Claim Draft-Legal Titles at USA Triathlon Collegiate Nationals
April 12, 2013 by USA Triathlon
Race action continues Saturday at Tempe Beach Park
TEMPE, Ariz. — Ben Kanute from the University of Arizona and Erin Jones from the University of Colorado
Colorado Springs were victorious in the debut of the Draft-Legal Collegiate Championship on the first
day of action at the 2013 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships at Tempe Beach Park.
The top returning male from last year’s Olympic-distance event, Kanute logged the fastest swim and
the fastest run to win the 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike, 5-kilometer run sprint-distance event in
58 minutes, 26 seconds. Luke Farkas of UCCS was second in 58:40 and California’s Yoni Doron-Peters was
third with a time of 59:06.
Kunute and Purdue’s Ryan Frederickson came out of the water within two seconds of each other and
quickly formed the lead group out of T1. Farkas and Doron-Peters joined the pair by lap three of the fourlap bike course. Exiting T2, Kanute took control, gaining a solid lead after 2.5k and holding it to the finish.
“It went perfectly,” said Kanute, who is also planning to race for the TriCats on Saturday. “We had a really
good group that worked together and gave us enough time on everybody else. The run just felt great — I
was cruising a little bit, and got to think about tomorrow a little, too.”
Jones was able to showcase her run skills in the women’s race to take the tape in 1:04:00. Cal’s Erika Erickson was second with a time of 1:04:23 and Johanna Gartman from UCCS was third in 1:04:38.
Representing the Elite Triathlon Academy based at UCCS, Jones exited the water second behind team50
mate Avery Evenson. Jones, Erickson and Gartman formed the chase pack and caught up with Evenson
on the final lap of the bike, and the quartet entered T2 together. A former runner at Oregon State, Jones
gained enough distance on Erickson to post the top 5k time for the women and earn the win.
“I started out with her (Erickson) and she helped me a lot,” Jones said of the run. “I’m so grateful and
humbled to be the first winner of the triathlon here. It’s such an honor, and I’m so proud of my team.”
Jones’ team, the Elite Triathlon Academy (ETA) combined to grab three of the top-six finishes Friday. Established in 2011, the ETA is a landmark program which allows athletes to train in Colorado Springs, Colo.,
and attend college full-time. The podium spots earned by Jones, Farkas and Gartman demonstrate the
successes and strengths of the program and its development of up-and-coming elite athletes.
A total of 72 athletes (44 men, 28 women) crossed the finish line of the draft-legal event, the first of three
races as part of the Collegiate Nationals weekend.
The action continues Saturday as more than 1,000 collegiate triathletes take part in the Olympic-distance
championship event, which features a 1,500m swim, 40k bike and 10k run. The men’s race will start at
7:30 a.m. PDT, followed by the women at 10:50 a.m. A live video stream of this event will be available on
usatriathlon.org, as well as a live blog. Coverage begins at 7 a.m. PDT (10 a.m. EDT).
The second edition of the Mixed-Team Relay is slated to begin at 4 p.m. Each four-person team must
consist of two females and two males who will complete a super-sprint triathlon before tagging their
teammate. All athletes will complete a 250-meter swim, 5k bike and 1.2k run.
Visit usatriathlon.org for more information on Collegiate Nationals.
2013 USA Triathlon Draft-Legal Collegiate Championship
750m swim, 20k bike, 5k run
Complete Results
Men’s Overall
1. Ben Kanute (Arizona), 58:26
2. Luke Farkas (UCCS), 58:40
3. Yoni Doron-Peters (Cal), 59:06
Women’s Overall
1. Erin Jones (UCCS), 1:04:00
2. Erika Erickson (California), 1:04:23
3. Johanna Gartman (UCCS), 1:04:38
Related Topics
USAT Collegiate National Championship
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Student-Athlete Sample Blogs
Eat, Train, Study: The Weekend of a Collegiate Triathlete
April 4, 2013 by Allison Alterman
“One, two, three, four, I declare a thumb — OWW THAT HURTS!”
It’s Friday evening. The weekend is finally here, and it’s almost time for the TriCat team meeting to
start. An unanticipated flying dismount from my bike onto the pavement on Thursday claimed a sizable piece of my skin, and now I writhe in agony as Amanda, a nursing student, cleans the wound.
In an attempt to either take my mind off the pain or to add entertainment value to the situation, our
club president James challenges me to a thumb war. Horrified, I notice a third team member with
his cell phone in hand, filming my simultaneous suffer fest and thumb war defeat.
At 5 p.m., the meeting begins. We are debriefed by the officers about last weekend’s race in Lake
Havasu City, plans for the aquathlon we are hosting in a couple of weeks are laid forth, and Coach
Brian Grasky discusses the remainder of our road to Collegiate Nationals. This weekend there will
be a lot of volume, he says, and then we will taper.
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Following the meeting, the team gets into their swimwear and jumps into the pool. Nurse Amanda
prescribes that I keep to the deck for a couple of days while my road rash heals, so I people-watch
with great amusement as our newest member, Phil, steps out of the locker room wearing blue
Crocs and a Spiderman swim suit.
After dinner, I head back to my dorm and prepare for the next morning. Mounding an accumulation
of training supplies (helmet, shoes, watch, clothes, nutrition, spare tube, sunglasses, water bottles,
sunscreen…) next to the door, I form what my roommate refers to as “The Pile.” I then go to brush
my teeth and become nervous while thinking about the challenge in front of me. We’re riding the
infamous Mount Lemmon in the morning, and I’m determined to climb all 27 miles to the Cookie
Cabin, which lies about 6,000 feet above the city of Tucson. The furthest I’ve previously ridden is
to mile 17.
I’m out of bed at 5:50 the next morning, and using hot tap water, I make my first cup of instant coffee. It’s pretty bad. I microwave my second cup, and anxiously watch my roommate to make sure
I don’t wake her. Silently, I pull my clothes on in the dark and stuff the remainder of “The Pile” into
my jersey pockets, which threaten to explode.
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I ride my bike a couple of blocks to a friend’s house, and three of us load into a car and drive 14
miles to the base of the mountain. We spend the car ride planning to stay together and choosing
the perfect roll-up song to blast as we pull into the parking lot. As I later heard one of the guys singing “Hey Porsche” while exiting the bathroom, I consider the latter mission a success.
The team begins the climb as a group, and slowly the pack breaks apart. Molly, Jessica and I follow our plan of staying together, and ride at conversation pace. Not even an hour into our ride, the
girls start planning the next workout. With the huffing and puffing of effort though, there’s room for
misinterpretation.
“Are you planning on doing the SOYO later?”
“Am I going for FroYo later?”
“No. The Swim On Your Own. SOYO. “
“Oooh. Yeah, when we get back. I’m down for FroYo, too, though.”
After a stretch break halfway up the mountain at Windy Point, we make it to the town of Summerhaven, where the Cookie Cabin lies. We join a group of TriCats who are already inside, and Molly
and I share the freshest, largest, most delicious cookie of our entire lives.
When I get back home, it’s all I can do to take a shower before crawling into bed. After my nap I
drink my third and fourth cups of coffee of the day and begin to wade through an ocean of homework.
At 6:45 a.m. on Easter Sunday, the team meets up at the criterium course for some brickervals.
The workout consists of four bike-runs, each decreasing in distance and increasing in intensity.
After practice, I see that coach Grasky has tweeted “Just spent 2hrs with the UA TriCats working
on speed and transition skills. As I’m headed home, I pass many of them still practicing! Why I like
this team: dedication!”
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The team parts ways to enjoy their respective Easter festivities, and reconvene at the pool at 5:00
p.m. There isn’t a lot of open water in Tucson, so tonight there’s wetsuit practice in the pool. Fortunately, there is a game of inner tube water polo being played in the shallow end, so strange looks
from fellow pool patrons are split between us. Taking turns, several TriCats jump out of the pool at
once and race to take off their wetsuits as our swim coach, Sean, yells advice. “The key is to kick
your leg like you’re at Nationals kicking the other teams in the butt!”
Burgers and pizza make for a well-earned pat on the back as the team finishes off the weekend
eating dinner on University Blvd.
Follow the action from the 2013 USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships, set for April 1213, on the event coverage page.
Preparation for My Last Collegiate Nationals
April 12, 2013 by Edie Nault
(3 Votes)
“Every training run has a purpose. I don’t burn calories, I train and compete. I fuel to perform, I
recover to get stronger. Getting pumped for Collegiate Nationals this weekend!”
This was my Facebook status almost one year ago. It’s been a year and I still am riding the same
emotional roller coaster of pre-race jitters. It’s now Thursday morning….two days out until my last
Collegiate Nationals representing Virginia Tech.
After several phone conversations with my teammate and friend, Chrissy Esposito, I had decided
to not check in a bag at the airport. Now I don’t have to worry about that small chance of my bag
getting lost with all my race gear, but that also meant that I had to fit everything thing into my small
book bag… wet suit and all! We found out at the beginning of this week that our travel itinerary had
us leaving Charlotte, N.C. at 7:10 p.m. to Minneapolis and then to Phoenix. Coming in late Thursday night, but early Friday morning for us with the 3-hour time change, caused nothing but stress.
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Your mind starts to race with thoughts, questions of if you’re ready for this race. A race that has
been your focal point for the last year, the A race that means everything to you has finally come.
You can’t help but worry about how your body will adjust to the heat, time change, and less than
ideal graduate life schedule. How could we be focused and sharp with little rest when Thursday is
one of the most important nights for us to get sleep? How can I adjust to the dry heat? These were
some of the thoughts that crept into my mind.
Flash forward 15 hours later with a minor delay in Minneapolis for our plane to be de-iced for
take-off, we had arrived in Tempe, Arizona. The total travel time would seem not to be that bad. I
remember the time when our team had driven 25 hours all the way to Texas three years ago for
Nationals. This time though, the travel seemed to especially drain on us all with lights out finally at
4:30 a.m. our time on Friday.
Last year, the Hokies team brought 21 people to Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This year we have brought
5 team members due to the increase in cost of travel and team funding. I look back at my experiences through the last three years at Nationals with the Virginia Tech Triathlon team, and I wouldn’t
possibly change who is beside me right now. Yes, we might be small in number, but everyone one
of us has the passion and Hokie Spirit to be here.
The sport of triathlon can be a very lonely sport by training, traveling, and racing by yourself. Past
Injuries and your own inner demons can seed doubts in your mind. We have now done our race
day prep and wait for the 4:30 a.m. alarm. Tomorrow, I will zip up my maroon and orange uniform
and know that even though the trip was tough, sleep lacking and jitters, I will push away the doubt
because my four other teammates and I are joined together by the Hokie Nation to compete with
all the collegiate triathletes… and race our hearts out.
Related Topics
Championships Blog, USAT Collegiate National Championship
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