GRAND JUNCTION, Colo.— The Colorado Mesa University women's triathlon team has been tabbed third in the NCAA Division II portion of the Collegiate Triathlon Coaches Association' Preseason Poll.

The Mavericks are coming off a fourth place finish at last year's Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championships and have been amongst the top four Division II finishers in each of the last five seasons since 2019.

Head Coach Jen Mathe, entering her fourth season with the Mavs, returns seven members from last year's team, including four of the seven that represented the Mavs at the national championships.

Mackenzie Mayer was an Honorable Mention All-American after finishing 18^th amongst Division II athletes at last year's national championships.  Fellow sophomore Shantelle Tupaz also returns after collecting West Region Freshman of the Year honors a year ago while senior Nadine Klive is a 2-time all-American who missed out on a third straight honor in 2024 by just one place after taking 22^nd at the national meet.

Josie Williams also returns for her senior season and was a 2022 honorable mention all-American.

Mathe also welcomes in five new members to the 12-person roster, including four freshman and Arizona State transfer Kaia Merrill.

Wingate, which won the Division II title, was voted first in the poll while Lenoir-Rhyne, the 2022 and 2023 champions, took the No. 2 spot after finishing just five spots behind the Bulldogs at last year's national championships.

Drury, which finished third at the national championships, was picked fourth in the poll, while Cal Poly Humboldt rounded out the top five.  Indianapolis, Black Hills State, Emmanuel, Roberts Wesleyan and Newberry made up the rest of the top ten.

Arizona and Arizona State were tied for the top spot in the Division I poll ahead of Queens while North Central took the top spot in the Division III portion ahead of Trine and Central College.

The Mavs will open up their season next Saturday (Aug. 30) at the Southern Hills Collegiate Cup in Hot Springs, South Dakota. and will race close to home at the Desert's Edge Triathlon on Sept. 14 at Highline Lake State Park in Loma, Colorado.
  Division II
1. Wingate
2. Lenoir-Rhyne
3. Colorado Mesa
4. Drury
5. Cal Poly Humboldt
6. Indianapolis
7. Black Hills State
8. Emmanuel
9. Roberts Wesleyan
10. Newberry

Division I

T1. Arizona
T1. Arizona State
3. Queens
4. TCU
5. Denver
6. South Florida
7. East Tennessee State
8. South Dakota
9. Duquesne
10. La Salle

Division III
1. North Central
2. Trine
3. Central College
4. Willamette
5. Millikin
6. Eastern Mennonite
7. Gallaudet
8. Warren Wilson
9. Concordia (Wisc.)
10. Greensboro College