After a year of competing in recreational and club-level meets, the Central College women’s triathlon team is preparing for its first official USA Triathlon collegiate competitions. The competition level will increase for the Dutch this year, starting with its first USA Triathlon Regional Qualifier at Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin on September 4. All of the USA Triathlon Regional Qualifiers are sprint-triathlon distances, starting with a 750-meter swim and followed by a 20-kilometer bike ride and a five-kilometer run.

The swimming at the meets in the team’s spring season were held at indoor pools, which will also be an adjustment to several new members of the team. An accomplished high school swimmer, Lindsey Blommers was the team’s top performer last year until an injury derailed her in the spring. She was second in the women’s collegiate division at Iowa State and won the Coe dual. Alex Griggs is the longest-tenured member of the team, having been with the program since its inception in 2019. Coach Hedrick-Rozenberg is excited about her progress.

Jessica Carithers came to Central to play basketball but got involved with the triathlon squad and some of those skills translated well. Kate Pachner started training with the team in the spring and impressed immediately. She also plays volleyball for the Dutch and that’s where she’ll spend most of the fall but might make one appearance if the schedules allow.

The Dutch have four meets on the fall schedule. After the opening meet in Wisconsin, Central will head to the CyMan Triathlon on September 25 and battle Coe in a dual on October 2. A second Regional Qualifier is slated for October 16 in Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. The top-eight NCAA Division III programs at the end of the season will be invited to the National Championships in Tempe, Arizona on November 13.