TEMPE, Ariz. – The Arizona State women’s triathlon team and head coach Cliff English announced, Thursday, the signing of seven student-athletes to the inaugural Sun Devil triathlon program.
The Sun Devils will welcome Emily Wagner (Calgary, Alberta), Kathryn Gorczya (Las Vegas, Nev.), Lillie Robinson (Madison, Ala.), Charlotte Ahrens (Nuremberg, Germany), Delaney Bucker (Indianapolis, Ind.), Amy Darlington (Bethlehem, Penn.) and Sarah Quintero (Round Rock, Texas).
Wagner joins the Sun Devils as a transfer from the University of Calgary. In 2013 she was a gold medalist in triathlon at the Canadian Summer Games, and she finished in eighth at the 2015 Junior Elite World Championship. Wagner was named the 2015 Canadian Junior Triathlete of the Year and recently competed in the 2016 Speedo Western Canadian Open where she swam three personal-best times in the freestyle events.
“Emily is a strong swimmer looking to qualify for Canadian Olympic trials in swimming and will bring a lot of talent to the team,” English said. We look for Emily to be a high scorer and push the team’s level of competition.
Gorczya joins the Sun Devils as a junior transferring from the Colorado Springs Elite Triathlon Academy. In high school, Gorczya was a two-time cross-country state champion, the first time as a freshman. She was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2010, and she helped her track and field team win two consecutive team championships.
“[Katie is] an all around strong athlete with a strong running history as a former state of Nevada cross-country champion,” English said. “Having trained at the Olympic Training Center the past two years and competed in several elite races, we look for Katie to be a strong leader on the team.”
Hailing from Madison, Ala., Robinson is a decorated high school track and cross country athlete. She was named the MVP of both her cross country team and track distance teams in 2013 and 2014, and earned the MVP honor again in 2015 for cross country. Also talented in her academics, Robinson is a member of the National Honor Society and the Science, Technical, and English National Honor Societies, and plans to major in biomedical engineering in the Ira Fulton School of Engineering at Arizona State.
“Lillie is a strong runner and outstanding student,” English said. “We will look for her to develop into an amazing triathlete during her time at Arizona State University. She is top of her high school class academically and has competed as a varsity cross country and track athlete during her high school career.”
Ahrens currently competes for the German National Team and joins the Sun Devils as one of the top ranked German Junior Elite triathletes. Ahrens was second at the German Nationals in 2015, and in 2012 she was honored as the Neubrandenburg Student Sportsman of the Year.
“Charlotte is a talented triathlete and runner,” English said. “Fresh out of high school we look for her to continue to grow as a strong contender at Arizona State University.”
Bucker joins the Sun Devils as a four-time varsity letterer in cross-country, swimming, and track and field. She holds a school record in the 5000 meter cross-country. In the classroom, Bucker will be graduating at the top of her class as the valedictorian of her high school.
“Not only will she be a force to reckon with on the field but she is also graduating class valedictorian and will continue to contribute at a high level to the academic community as a Barrett Honors student,” English said.
A transfer from Penn, Darlington joins the Sun Devils after rewriting the record books for the Quakers. A school record holder in the 3k steeplechase, she was the captain of Penn’s cross country and track programs in both 2014 and 2015. Darlington also qualified for NCAA Outdoor Regionals with her record-setting steeplechase time of 10:28.16 this past season. In high school, Darlington earned All-American honors at the 2011 New Balance Outdoor Nationals in only her second-ever steeplechase competition.
“Amy is transferring to Arizona State University to work on a graduate degree,” English said. “Finishing up four years of competition as a Cross Country and Track runner at University of Pennsylvania, she will graduate from Wharton School of Business in May and join us to continue her student-athlete journey as a triathlete.”
Quintero joins the Sun Devils as a four-time varsity letterer in cross-country, swimming, and track and field. She was also a four-time Cross-Country All-District Academic honoree.
“Sarah is a varsity swimmer, and runner for her high school cross country and track and field teams,” English said. “She is in the top-five percent of her class and is currently working on starting her own catering company. We expect her to develop into a great triathlete and continue the entrepreneurial spirit at W.P. Carey School of Business.”
Sun Devil Triathlon begins its inaugural season in the fall of 2016.