TEMPE – In an exciting day of competition, six-time national champion Sun Devil Triathlon defeated Arizona 87-99 to win the Duel in the Desert in the team's first event of the season. Arizona State won two of the three events, including taking the top two spots in the duathlon.
"I'm just really happy," ASU Head Coach Cliff English said. "It's a good start and it's fun to start a rivalry with the school down south. I felt everyone performed well and had fun. This was nice way to provide all the athletes a great competitive venue to get the dust off."
The action began with the duathlon relay where the ASU Blue team of Amber Schlebusch, Faith Dasso and Heidi Jurankova crossed the finish line first. Schlebusch put the team in front by completing her leg – that included the spring at the start – in seven minutes, 22 seconds. Her time was the fastest of the day. Dasso followed with a time of 7:33 with Jurankova anchoring the victory at 7:27.
Led by a time of 7:29 from Naomi Ruff, the ASU Orange team finished second with a combined time of 22:46. Ruff entered her run in third place but overcame the Arizona racer in front of her to score the second-place finish for the team.
At the pool, ASU secured the title in the 100-yard swim by scoring 28 points against the 40 of the Wildcats. Katy Clausen led the way for the Sun Devils by placing third (55.10 seconds) with Schlebusch leading a pack of five straight Sun Devils with her fifth-place finish.
Arizona edged out a 38-40 win in the 500-yard swim, but ASU saw Zoe Mari Adam led the team with a third-place result at 5:20.28. Britney Brown finished in 5:22.40 to place fourth in the race.
With this event now complete, the Sun Devils will begin preparation for the Battle in the Fort Triathlon on September 17. Newcomer TCU will host the event which will feature a field of expected National Championship participants.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH CLIFF ENGLISH
On the outlook of the team
"We had some good times in the swim – including a few personal bests – but we are strong in the bike and run and I think that showed today."
On the Battle in the Fort
"We will be meeting some of our bigger rivals, including U of A again, so we need to carry today's momentum forward into the season."
"I'm just really happy," ASU Head Coach Cliff English said. "It's a good start and it's fun to start a rivalry with the school down south. I felt everyone performed well and had fun. This was nice way to provide all the athletes a great competitive venue to get the dust off."
The action began with the duathlon relay where the ASU Blue team of Amber Schlebusch, Faith Dasso and Heidi Jurankova crossed the finish line first. Schlebusch put the team in front by completing her leg – that included the spring at the start – in seven minutes, 22 seconds. Her time was the fastest of the day. Dasso followed with a time of 7:33 with Jurankova anchoring the victory at 7:27.
Led by a time of 7:29 from Naomi Ruff, the ASU Orange team finished second with a combined time of 22:46. Ruff entered her run in third place but overcame the Arizona racer in front of her to score the second-place finish for the team.
At the pool, ASU secured the title in the 100-yard swim by scoring 28 points against the 40 of the Wildcats. Katy Clausen led the way for the Sun Devils by placing third (55.10 seconds) with Schlebusch leading a pack of five straight Sun Devils with her fifth-place finish.
Arizona edged out a 38-40 win in the 500-yard swim, but ASU saw Zoe Mari Adam led the team with a third-place result at 5:20.28. Britney Brown finished in 5:22.40 to place fourth in the race.
With this event now complete, the Sun Devils will begin preparation for the Battle in the Fort Triathlon on September 17. Newcomer TCU will host the event which will feature a field of expected National Championship participants.
QUOTES FROM HEAD COACH CLIFF ENGLISH
On the outlook of the team
"We had some good times in the swim – including a few personal bests – but we are strong in the bike and run and I think that showed today."
On the Battle in the Fort
"We will be meeting some of our bigger rivals, including U of A again, so we need to carry today's momentum forward into the season."