Greensboro College in Greensboro, North Carolina, will become the 38th school in the USA to offer women’s triathlon at the varsity level. The school also announced the hiring of Karen Buxton as the team’s Head Coach. The NCAA Division III team will begin competing in autumn/fall 2022.
The commitment of the 38th school is a step in triathlon’s journey toward becoming an NCAA Championship sport. USA Triathlon (USAT) is now two schools away from its goal of securing 40 varsity programs by 2024.
Deemed an NCAA Emerging Sport for Women in 2014, triathlon has a 10-year window to demonstrate sustainability at the NCAA varsity level – and reach the target of 40 varsity programs.
“USA Triathlon is proud to welcome Greensboro College to the women’s collegiate triathlon family,” said Rocky Harris, USA Triathlon CEO.
“Women’s collegiate triathlon is thriving in North Carolina and this addition is particularly exciting as now six schools have added women’s triathlon since March of 2020. We’re one step closer to full-fledged NCAA Championship sport status and thrilled that Greensboro will offer more opportunities for student-athletes in the Southeast Region.”
Greensboro College is the sixth school in North Carolina to offer varsity women’s triathlon, joining fellow Greensboro, North Carolina, school Guilford (DIII), Belmont Abbey College (Belmont, NC, DII), Lenoir-Rhyne University (Hickory, NC, DIII), Queens University of Charlotte (Charlotte, NC, DIII) and Wingate University (Wingate, NC, DIII).
The addition of women’s triathlon as Greensboro’s 19th varsity sport is made possible through a grant from the USA Triathlon Foundation. The USA Triathlon Foundation Women’s Emerging Sport Grant is distributed to select NCAA membership institutions to develop, implement and sustain women’s triathlon programs at the varsity level.
“Greensboro College is pleased to be making history in helping USA Triathlon achieve the NCAA benchmark in advancing women’s intercollegiate triathlon from the ’emerging sport’ category to a full-fledged NCAA championship sport.,” said Greensboro College Director of Athletics, Kim Strable.
“That benchmark of 40-plus sponsoring colleges and universities is expected to be achieved early next year, and our program is part of the final push to make that happen.”
Greensboro College’s new coach, Karen Buxton has been a professional triathlon coach for more than 30 years, and holds USA Triathlon Level III and Youth and Junior Certifications. A graduate of Johnson State College with a master’s degree in athletic administration from Temple University, Buxton has served as Secretary-General of USA Triathlon’s Board of Directors and Chair of the USA Triathlon Age Group Committee.
She is a 13-time IRONMAN finisher, placed fifth at the 2000 US Long Course National Championships and won silver in her age group at the 2007 Long Course World Duathlon Championships.
“When I think about one of the top coaches in all of the US, Karen Buxton comes to mind,” said Tim Yount, USA Triathlon Chief Sport Development Officer.
“Not only is she one of the most respected coaches in triathlon, she is one of the most knowledgeable and well positioned to take on the task that the collegiate triathlon system will present to her. She will be a great leader, respected recruiter, and community collaborator as we all know having support of a city is vital to a sport’s success. Greensboro couldn’t have selected a better coach.”
Women’s triathlon is an autumn/fall sport. The varsity season includes four national qualifiers followed by the Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championships, typically held in November. The draft-legal races are sprint-distance, featuring a 750m open-water swim, draft-legal 20km bike and 5km run.
Women’s Varsity Collegiate Triathlon Programs (as at December 2, 2021)
NCAA Division I (9)
Arizona State University (Tempe, Ariz.)
Delaware State University (Dover, Del.)
East Tennessee State University (Johnson City, Tenn.)
Hampton University (Hampton, Va.)
Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, Texas)
University of Denver (Denver, Colo.)
University of San Francisco (San Francisco. Calif.)
University of South Dakota (Vermillion, S.D.)
Wagner College (Staten Island, N.Y.)
NCAA Division II (15)
American International College (Springfield, Mass.)
Belmont Abbey College (Belmont, N.C.)
Black Hills State University (Spearfish, S.D.)
Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction, Colo.)
Daemen College (Amherst, N.Y.)
Davis & Elkins College (Elkins, W.V.)
Drury University (Springfield, Mo.)
Emmanuel College (Franklin Springs, Ga.)
King University (Bristol, Tenn.)
Lenoir-Rhyne University (Hickory, N.C.)
Montana State University Billings (Billings, Mont.)
Newberry College (Newberry, S.C.)
Queens University of Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.)
St. Thomas Aquinas College (Sparkill, N.Y.)
Wingate University (Wingate, N.C.)
NCAA Division III (14)
Alvernia University (Reading, Pa.)
Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Central College (Pella, Iowa)
Coe College (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
Concordia University Wisconsin (Mequon, Wis.)
Eastern Mennonite University (Harrisonburg, Va.)
Greensboro College (Greensboro, N.C.)
Guilford College (Greensboro, N.C.)
Millikin University (Decatur, Ill.)
North Central College (Naperville, Ill.)
Northern Vermont University-Johnson (Johnson, Vt.)
Transylvania University (Lexington, Ky.)
Trine University (Angola, Ind.)
Willamette University (Salem, Ore.)
