Results | USA Triatlon
 
Mission Viejo, Calif.----The Wingate University Men's Triathlon Program secured a second consecutive runner-up finish at the USA Triathlon Collegiate Club National Championships on Sunday at Lake Mission Viejo.
 
Wingate went into the second day of competition in good position for a podium finish in third place after Jake Baugher finished third in Saturday's Draft-legal Sprint. The team started Sunday's Olympic Non-draft event with strong swims, the Bulldogs were led out of the 64F degree water by Junior Humberto Castañeiras Jenner (Mexico) in second, quickly followed by Baugher and Xoel Rodriguez Abad (Spain). 

The team battled reigning National Champions Queens University with both squads having student-athletes in the lead group on the hilly and challenging bike course. Baugher and Xoel maintained contact but the Queens team proved stronger than the rest of the field and despite courageous run performances, the Bulldogs fell short of taking the top podium step.

Baugher finished 10th to lead the squad followed by Xoel in 12th, Humberto 16th, Luis Steiert 17th, and Charlie Smoak 19th to finish off the Wingate scoring. Their score placed second behind Queens and they were followed by the University of California Berkeley in third. The individual race on Sunday was won by Ben Hinchliffe from Dartmouth College.

Individuals also compete in an overall competition if they race both Saturday's Draft-legal Sprint and Sunday's Olympic Non-draft events. Baugher finished third in that competition based on his third place finish Saturday and tenth place finish Sunday.
 
What They Are Saying
 
Wingate triathlon head coach Nick Radkewich: 
"The team had high expectations coming into the National Championships after beating Queens in the fall at the MACTC Championships. However, the course on Sunday was well suited to Queen's strength on the bike and the Bulldogs will have to work hard over the next year to take the title. I'm excited that we should have everyone returning and despite the program only being three years old they have established themselves as an exciting group to watch over both formats."
 
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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