TEMPE, Ariz. – For the second-straight year, Arizona State has been awarded the opportunity to host the 2018 Women's Collegiate Triathlon Collegiate National Championship on Sunday, Nov. 4 at Tempe Town Lake. Sunday will also feature the Ignite the Fork Age Group Race prior to the collegiate championship.
The Sun Devils will have the chance to defend their title for the third-straight year after winning the national championship in their first two seasons as a program. Rising sophomore Hannah Henry will also look to defend her individual title on home soil.
"In 2017, Tempe showcased the perfect landscape to host the Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championship," said Arizona governor Doug Ducey. "Between the weather, scenery and the surrounding accommodations, Tempe Town Lake and the City of Tempe provide the participants and spectators a unique experience for the surging sport of triathlon."
Arizona State became the first Power Five school to adopt the NCAA emerging sport of triathlon in 2015, and has quickly made a statement under head coach Cliff English with back-to-back national titles in their first two seasons as a program. As host of the national championship for the second year in a row, Arizona State looks to again set a standard for the future execution of the championship event.
"Tempe has worked with ASU to make this city a great place to hold the Triathlon National Championships," said Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell. "We host over a dozen multisport competitions, marathons and races a year bringing tens of thousands to our community. As a result, we know how to put on a successful event, and for everyone that visits the City of Tempe as part of these competitions, that's one more person that knows what a great community we are. Tempe is a city I am proud to call home and we look forward to making all involved with the event equally as proud."
The race will take place on and around the Tempe Town Lake North Shore. The 2018 course will feature an all new course from the 2017 championship, but will continue to revolve around Tempe Town Lake.
"We are thrilled to have won the bid to host the NCAA collegiate national triathlon championships for the second straight year," said Sun Devil women's triathlon head coach Cliff English. "Our team at ASU did an incredible job with the competition last year, and we really look forward to expanding the event to include a larger men's and women's Ignite the Fork open event.
"The mission was to design a challenging course that highlights aspects of the beautiful desert landscape in Papago park with a climb up Curry hill and the water front of Tempe Town lake where competitors swim and run."
ASU and the city of Tempe have strong participation and cooperation with the local, regional, and national triathlon community. Tempe possesses a history of hosting several major racing events including Ironman Arizona, Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, and Pat's Run, as well as triathlon-specific events in the 2013 & 2014 National Triathlon Championships for USA Triathlon.
"Sun Devil Athletics and Arizona State University is thrilled to welcome back the Triathlon National Championship for the second-straight year," said ASU Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson. "After getting our feet wet last season, our goal is to build ASU and Tempe Town Lake into a frequent destination for championships to come."
The 2017 national championship victory featured three Sun Devils on the podium crossing the line at 1-2-3. All three -- Henry, rising junior Charlotte Ahrens and rising sophomore Kyla Roy -- return to defend the team and individual honors. Seventy-plus women hit the start line, a record field for the third official National Championship since triathlon became an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women in January of 2014. In total, 11 varsity teams and 10 club teams were represented at all three divisions.
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 races and connects with nearly 500,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
The Sun Devils will have the chance to defend their title for the third-straight year after winning the national championship in their first two seasons as a program. Rising sophomore Hannah Henry will also look to defend her individual title on home soil.
"In 2017, Tempe showcased the perfect landscape to host the Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championship," said Arizona governor Doug Ducey. "Between the weather, scenery and the surrounding accommodations, Tempe Town Lake and the City of Tempe provide the participants and spectators a unique experience for the surging sport of triathlon."
Arizona State became the first Power Five school to adopt the NCAA emerging sport of triathlon in 2015, and has quickly made a statement under head coach Cliff English with back-to-back national titles in their first two seasons as a program. As host of the national championship for the second year in a row, Arizona State looks to again set a standard for the future execution of the championship event.
"Tempe has worked with ASU to make this city a great place to hold the Triathlon National Championships," said Tempe Mayor Mark Mitchell. "We host over a dozen multisport competitions, marathons and races a year bringing tens of thousands to our community. As a result, we know how to put on a successful event, and for everyone that visits the City of Tempe as part of these competitions, that's one more person that knows what a great community we are. Tempe is a city I am proud to call home and we look forward to making all involved with the event equally as proud."
The race will take place on and around the Tempe Town Lake North Shore. The 2018 course will feature an all new course from the 2017 championship, but will continue to revolve around Tempe Town Lake.
"We are thrilled to have won the bid to host the NCAA collegiate national triathlon championships for the second straight year," said Sun Devil women's triathlon head coach Cliff English. "Our team at ASU did an incredible job with the competition last year, and we really look forward to expanding the event to include a larger men's and women's Ignite the Fork open event.
"The mission was to design a challenging course that highlights aspects of the beautiful desert landscape in Papago park with a climb up Curry hill and the water front of Tempe Town lake where competitors swim and run."
ASU and the city of Tempe have strong participation and cooperation with the local, regional, and national triathlon community. Tempe possesses a history of hosting several major racing events including Ironman Arizona, Rock 'n' Roll Marathon, and Pat's Run, as well as triathlon-specific events in the 2013 & 2014 National Triathlon Championships for USA Triathlon.
"Sun Devil Athletics and Arizona State University is thrilled to welcome back the Triathlon National Championship for the second-straight year," said ASU Vice President for University Athletics Ray Anderson. "After getting our feet wet last season, our goal is to build ASU and Tempe Town Lake into a frequent destination for championships to come."
The 2017 national championship victory featured three Sun Devils on the podium crossing the line at 1-2-3. All three -- Henry, rising junior Charlotte Ahrens and rising sophomore Kyla Roy -- return to defend the team and individual honors. Seventy-plus women hit the start line, a record field for the third official National Championship since triathlon became an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women in January of 2014. In total, 11 varsity teams and 10 club teams were represented at all three divisions.
About USA Triathlon
USA Triathlon is proud to serve as the National Governing Body for triathlon, as well as duathlon, aquathlon, aquabike, winter triathlon, off-road triathlon and paratriathlon in the United States. Founded in 1982, USA Triathlon sanctions more than 4,300 races and connects with nearly 500,000 members each year, making it the largest multisport organization in the world. In addition to its work with athletes, coaches, and race directors on the grassroots level, USA Triathlon provides leadership and support to elite athletes competing at international events, including International Triathlon Union (ITU) World Championships, Pan American Games and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. USA Triathlon is a proud member of the ITU and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).