LOMA, Colo.— Estonian native and freshman Alexandra Schipai made her collegiate debut and led the Colorado Mesa University women's triathlon team on an historic day here at the Desert's Edge Collegiate Cup contested at and around Highline Lake State Park.
 
The Mavericks, in conjunction with the Grand Junction Sports Commission, hosted a NCAA race for the first time in program history, and finished seventh in a loaded field that included six NCAA Division I foes, including five of the top eight ranked teams, according to the Collegiate Triathlon Coaches Association's Preseason Poll.
 
Co-No. 1 Arizona State, which won seven straight national titles until being dethroned in 2024, claimed Sunday's team title with 295 points, 12 more than defending national champion Arizona, the other Co. No. 1 squad in the poll.
 
The unranked San Francisco Dons were a close third with 276 points while fourth-ranked TCU took fourth with 233.  No. 8 South Dakota (203), and No. 5 Denver (189) also topped the Mavs, ranked third in Division II.  CMU finished with 145 points and finished well ahead of Division II rival Black Hills State (97), ranked seventh in the Division II Preseason Poll.
 
Schipai, who did not race in CMU's season-opener 15 days ago in Hot Springs, South Dakota, finished in one hour, eight minutes, 20 seconds to place 32^nd in the field of 66 triathletes, 62 of whom finished the course, which included a 750-meter swim in the lake, a 20-kilometer bike course on the Mesa County roads to the south and west, and a 5K run inside the park.
 
The next three Mavericks were around two minutes behind as sophomore Shantelle Tupaz placed 38^th in 1:10.15 ahead of sophomore Mackenzie Mayer (39^th, 1:10.40) and senior Nadine Klive (40^th, 1:10.55).  Senior Fiona Graves rounded out the Mavs' 5-woman team score, placing 50^th in 1:14.24.
 
Six other Mavs finished between 52^nd and 60^th.
 
Arizona's Kelly Wetteland took the individual win in 1:02.48 after emerging from the lead pack during the run segment.  She was 20 seconds faster than Arizona State's Naomi Ruff in that portion of the race and won by 24 seconds over Ruff, who finished in 1:03.12 to lead three Sun Devils amongst the top four finishers, which helped push the Sun Devils to the team win.
 
They had finished third behind Arizona and TCU at the Southern Hills Collegiate Cup, which had featured the same eight teams as Sunday's race.
 
The Mavs will next compete on Oct. 4 at the Prairie State Collegiate Cup in Dewitt, Illinois.

Team Standings
1. Arizona State -295
2. Arizona - 283
3. San Francisco - 276
4. TCU - 233
5. South Dakota - 203
6. Denver - 189
7. Colorado Mesa- 145
8. Black Hills State - 97

Individual Standings (Top 10 + All CMU Triathletes)
66 Starters; 62 Finishers

1. Kelly Wetteland (Arizona)- 1:02:48
2. Naom Ruff (Arizona State)- 1:03:12
3. Sidney Clement (Arizona State)- 1:03:26
2. Alex Campbell (Arizona State)- 1:03:42
5. Ruth Pardy (Arziona)- 1:04:01
6. Josi Seerig (San Francisco)- 1:04:03
7. Maira Carreau (Denver)- 1:04:09
8. Chelsea Webber (South Dakota)- 1:04:12
9. Maite Kustner (San Francisco)- 1:04:13
10. Britney Brown (Arizona State)- 1:04:17
32. Alexandra Schipai- 1:08:20
38. Shantelle Tupaz- 1:10:15
39. Mackenzie Mayer- 1:10:40
40. Nadine Klive- 1:10:55
50. Fiona Graves- 1:14:24
52. Sylvie Aardema Gagnon- 1:16:05
53. Ellayna Potter- 1:16:15
54. Jaycee Stephens- 1:17:01
58. Macy Arch- 1:20:13
59. Emma Meyers- 1:23:43
60. Kaia Merrill- 1:25.51
DNF. Josie Williams