HOT SPRINGS, S.D.— The Colorado Mesa University Mavericks began the 2024 Fall season on Saturday morning at the Southern Hills Triathlon, taking fifth place in the final team standings.
The Mavericks scored 126 points, finishing ahead of NCAA Division II rival Black Hills State (91) but behind the four Division I teams in the field, all of whom were ranked amongst the top seven in the recent Collegiate Triathlon Coaches Preseason Poll. No. 5 ranked TCU won the event by the narrowest of margins, 203-202 over No. 4 ranked Denver. Seventh-ranked South Dakota was also in the thick of the team chase, taking third with 199 points while No. 2 Arizona placed fourth with 183.
The Mavericks had been picked third in the Division II CTCA Preseason Poll, two spots ahead of Black Hills State.
CMU redshirt senior and 3-time CTCA All-American
Shannon Feran was the top Maverick finisher, taking 14
th place with a time of 33 minutes, 58 seconds in the Super Sprint event, which featured a 375-meter swim, 10-kilomter bike segment and 2.5 run at the Angostura State Recreation Area.
Those distances are half of what the Mavericks will race later in the season.
Freshman
Shantelle Tupaz was the next Maverick finisher in 21
st place. The Pleasanton, California native finished in 34:57 in her collegiate debut.
Senior
Torin Lackmann (26
th, 35:43), freshman
Mariana Batarse Duenes (32
nd, 37:01) and junior
Fiona Graves (36
th, 37:18) also contributed to the Mavs' 5-person team score.
Freshman
Mackenzie Mayer (39
th, 38:02), junior
Nadine Klive (41st, 39:17), freshman
Jaycee Stephens (46
th, 42:02), redshirt freshman
Audyn Setzer (48
th, 42:23) and redshirt junior
Yoana Tohom (49
th, 43:20) also competed for the Mavericks.
Arizona's Kelly Lyn Wetteland took the individual win in 32:20, 26 and 27 seconds ahead of Denver teammates Ava Pfaff and Olivia Ebenstein, who crossed the line just one second apart in 32:46 and 32:47, respectively.
The Mavericks will be back in action next Saturday, competing close to home at the Desert's Edge Triathlon in Fruits, Colorado.
Individual Results (Top 5 + CMU) – 49 Finishers
1. Kelly Wetteland, Arizona (32:20)
2. Ava Pfaff, Denver (32:46)
3. Olivia Ebenstein, Denver (32:47)
4. Chelsea Webber, South Dakota (32:52)
5. Laura Holanszky, Arizona (33:01)
14. Shannon Feran, Colorado Mesa (33:58)
21. Shantelle Tupaz, Colorado Mesa (34:57)
26. Torin Lackmann, Colorado Mesa (35:43)
32. Mariana Batarse Duenes, Colorado Mesa (37:01)
36. Fiona Graves, Colorado Mesa (37:18)
39. Mackenzie Mayer, Colorado Mesa (38:02)
41. Nadine Klive, Colorado Mesa (38:45)
46. Jaycee Stephens, Colorado Mesa (42:02)
48. Audyn Setzer, Colorodo Mesa (42:23)
49. Yoana Tohom, Colorado Mesa (43:20)
Team Standings
1. TCU- 203 [44-42-40-39-38-(34)-(32)]
2. Denver- 202 [49-48-43-33-29-(27)]
3. South Dakota- 199 [47-45-41-35-31-(22)-(21)]
4. Arizona- 183 [50-46-36-28-23]
5. Colorado Mesa- 126 [37-30-25-19-15-(14)-(13)]
6. Black Hills State- 91 [24-20-18-17-12]
