INFO | Giant Acorn Collegiate Cup results
 
Spotsylvania, Va.----The Wingate University women's triathlon team competed in the Giant Acorn Collegiate Cup at Lake Anna State Park Sunday. Freshman Sophie Burger led the Bulldogs, finishing 15th with her time of 1:13:42.0. Five WU newcomers and three veterans participated in this year's Giant Acorn Collegiate Cup.
 
The race started with a 750-meter swim in Lake Anna. The student-athletes conquered a 15.5-mile bike ride next, finishing with a 5K run. Wingate had three triathletes in the top 18 finishers in the 88-person field. Maddie Gagnon was right behind Burger, claiming 16th place with her time of 1:13:43.4. Andie Kuipers (pictured above) finished 18th, thanks to her time of 1:13:54.2.

What They Are Saying
Wingate head coach Nick Radkewich
 
"It was great to see some of our new Bulldogs race hard against a strong field. We saw Sophie Burger improve greatly in her second start to the lead the team, coming out of the swim with the lead group and starting the run in a great position. Maddie Gagnon showed she can post a strong a showing across all three events coming out of the swim in the second group, but riding smart and then having a very strong run to move up and finish well."
 
"This group will return to training with the rest of the squad for some hard sessions this coming week to start final preparation for the East Region Championships October 14. They have made picking a roster very difficult with the great performances over the past two Collegiate Cups."
 
On the horizon
 
The USA Triathlon Collegiate East Regional qualifier is Saturday, October 14 in Huddleston, Virginia (Smith Mountain Lake facility). Wingate is the defending East Regional champions.
 
Triathlete's "Tri Big Ten" List of Top Collegiate Programs
 
Wingate is mentioned on Triathlete's "Tri Big Ten" list of top collegiate programs. The University is one of 42 institutions with women's triathlon, an NCAA emerging sport. The school also sponsors a men's collegiate club team. Wingate is the only non-Division I school on the list.
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
 
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 25 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 15 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
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