TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cliff English had already planned to improve the defending national champion Sun Devil triathlon team's depth through recruiting. A decision by the newly formed collegiate coaches association to expand competitions from five to seven student-athletes per race underscored that need.
"Having that depth allows us to do more in terms of team tactics," English said. "It's almost like the Tour de France in terms of strategy, but then having girls that are talented in a particular skill like cycling or swimming can really help their teammates. It gives us lots of options."
English brought in six freshmen this season, and he turned to his native Canada for two elite ones.
Winnipeg, Manitoba native Kyla Roy was ASU's top finisher (third place) at the Eastern Regional Qualifier in Sarasota, Florida on Oct. 7. She also finished third at the Central Regional Qualifier in Naperville, Illinois on Sept. 4.
Victoria, British Columbia native Hannah Henry won the Central Regional Qualifier, the only one of the three races in which she has competed, as English tries to spread the competition experience around his talented roster.
"They have really fit in well with what we're trying to," English said. "They bring a lot of experience being on the national team and training with a really good group back in Canada. They're very disciplined and hard working so they really haven't missed a beat."
Roy began her athletic career as a swimmer, with a specialty in the breaststroke. Her father competed in triathlons for fun and she followed in his footsteps, competing in Canada's Kids of Steel (U14), a dramatically shortened triathlon, during the summers. In 2013, she became the youngest athlete (14) to compete in a triathlon at the Canadian Summer Games. Since then, she has competed solely in triathlon and represented Canada as a Junior Elite at the 2015 and 2016 World Championships.
"I didn't have many expectations when I came to ASU," Roy said. "I came here to have fun and compete with a team. I wanted to experience that because it's very different. When I'm racing for Canada, we will have team strategies, but it's still pretty individualized. Here, it's all about the team. Every positions counts."
Henry finished third at the Canadian Junior Elite National Championships in 2015, and second in 2016. At the 2016 ITU Junior Elite world championships in Cozumel, Mexico, she finished 12th.
Both student-athletes chose ASU for the opportunity to compete for an elite program while working toward their academic degrees. Henry said the Sun Devils' depth is driving her to new heights.
"Everyone here is so strong in all the different parts of triathlon," said Henry, a cross-country runner whose parents and sister also compete in triathlons. "It's great having strong runners, swimmers and cyclists to push you. I have always liked the run the best but I have been working on my swim a lot and it's getting a lot better."
Roy and Henry will be critical components of the team's repeat hopes when the Sun Devils host the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship on Nov. 5. Senior Kati Gorczyca, who finished second at the national championship last season, suffered an injury during a crash at the Eastern Regional Qualifier and will miss the national championship, although she has another year of eligibility and will return next season.
"So far, the season has gone really well for me even though it's been a really long season since I started racing for Canada back in March," Roy said. "It's going to be so exciting hosting nationals with everyone out to watch. We want to show everyone what triathlon is all about."
"We've been practicing the course already so it's super exciting just thinking about it," Henry added. "It's great that Kyla is also here from Canada. It's pretty cool that ASU was able to win (a national championship) so fast. We want to keep that going."
"Having that depth allows us to do more in terms of team tactics," English said. "It's almost like the Tour de France in terms of strategy, but then having girls that are talented in a particular skill like cycling or swimming can really help their teammates. It gives us lots of options."
English brought in six freshmen this season, and he turned to his native Canada for two elite ones.
Winnipeg, Manitoba native Kyla Roy was ASU's top finisher (third place) at the Eastern Regional Qualifier in Sarasota, Florida on Oct. 7. She also finished third at the Central Regional Qualifier in Naperville, Illinois on Sept. 4.
Victoria, British Columbia native Hannah Henry won the Central Regional Qualifier, the only one of the three races in which she has competed, as English tries to spread the competition experience around his talented roster.
"They have really fit in well with what we're trying to," English said. "They bring a lot of experience being on the national team and training with a really good group back in Canada. They're very disciplined and hard working so they really haven't missed a beat."
Roy began her athletic career as a swimmer, with a specialty in the breaststroke. Her father competed in triathlons for fun and she followed in his footsteps, competing in Canada's Kids of Steel (U14), a dramatically shortened triathlon, during the summers. In 2013, she became the youngest athlete (14) to compete in a triathlon at the Canadian Summer Games. Since then, she has competed solely in triathlon and represented Canada as a Junior Elite at the 2015 and 2016 World Championships.
"I didn't have many expectations when I came to ASU," Roy said. "I came here to have fun and compete with a team. I wanted to experience that because it's very different. When I'm racing for Canada, we will have team strategies, but it's still pretty individualized. Here, it's all about the team. Every positions counts."
Henry finished third at the Canadian Junior Elite National Championships in 2015, and second in 2016. At the 2016 ITU Junior Elite world championships in Cozumel, Mexico, she finished 12th.
Both student-athletes chose ASU for the opportunity to compete for an elite program while working toward their academic degrees. Henry said the Sun Devils' depth is driving her to new heights.
"Everyone here is so strong in all the different parts of triathlon," said Henry, a cross-country runner whose parents and sister also compete in triathlons. "It's great having strong runners, swimmers and cyclists to push you. I have always liked the run the best but I have been working on my swim a lot and it's getting a lot better."
Roy and Henry will be critical components of the team's repeat hopes when the Sun Devils host the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championship on Nov. 5. Senior Kati Gorczyca, who finished second at the national championship last season, suffered an injury during a crash at the Eastern Regional Qualifier and will miss the national championship, although she has another year of eligibility and will return next season.
"So far, the season has gone really well for me even though it's been a really long season since I started racing for Canada back in March," Roy said. "It's going to be so exciting hosting nationals with everyone out to watch. We want to show everyone what triathlon is all about."
"We've been practicing the course already so it's super exciting just thinking about it," Henry added. "It's great that Kyla is also here from Canada. It's pretty cool that ASU was able to win (a national championship) so fast. We want to keep that going."