USA Triathlon has announced that Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester, New York, will become the 15th NCAA Division II program to offer women’s triathlon at the varsity level.
“It’s an exciting time to be a Redhawk, and this expansion of our competitive teams provides a more robust athletics program,” said the university’s President Deana Porterfield.
“For 157 years Roberts Wesleyan University has been committed to education for character, and our athletic programs provide opportunities for students to become the best they can be on and off the field.
“As an NCAA Division II university, we are committed to the development of the student-athlete, which pairs academic excellence with excellence in competition.”
Victoria Brumfield, USA Triathlon CEO, said “Coming off an exciting weekend of varsity collegiate racing at the Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championships, USA Triathlon is now thrilled to welcome Roberts Wesleyan University to the women’s collegiate triathlon family.
“Women’s collegiate triathlon is growing in the northeast region of the US, and Roberts Wesleyan offers another excellent competitive opportunity for student-athletes at the DII level.”
The commitment by Roberts Wesleyan University continues the momentum women’s collegiate triathlon has gathered toward becoming an NCAA Championship sport.
With more than 40 schools now offering women’s collegiate triathlon, the NCAA Emerging Sport for Women initiative just has a few more steps to take on its way to being fully managed by the NCAA as a championship event, including committee, council, divisional and budget approvals.
The 2022 season came to a close this past weekend in Tempe, Arizona, at the 2022 Women’s Collegiate Triathlon National Championships where varsity student-athletes from 32 collegiate programs competed for national titles in DI, DII and DIII. Athletes compete in draft-legal races that are sprint-distance, featuring a 750m open-water swim, draft-legal 20-km bike and 5km run.
