RESULTS | 2024 Wingate Super Sprint Kickoff results
 
Wingate, N.C.----The NCAA Division II No. 2 Wingate University women's triathlon team hosted its own Clash of the Titans Sunday, taking home the team crown in the Bulldog Super Sprint Kickoff. Wingate defeated two top 10 NCAA Division I programs (Queens and Duquesne) and its South Atlantic Conference neighbor Newberry, the No. 8 squad in Division II.
 
Wingate won its third consecutive Super Sprint Kickoff, albeit with a new format for 2024. The Bulldogs had 203 points, outdistancing Queens University of Charlotte by 25 points. The No. 3 Royals compiled 178 points. Duquesne took the third spot on the podium with 168 points. The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Dukes are the No. 9 team in the NCAA Division I preseason poll published by the Collegiate Triathlon Coaches Association (CTCA).
 
In addition to the season-opening fireworks, the Bulldogs celebrated its first-ever Senior Day for nine seniors. The four WU women's seniors included Maddie Gagnon, Carla Larrabeiti, Dylan Kirchner and Pamela Hernandez Quevado. Bulldog Nation honored five men's club team seniors with Kyle Butler, Martin Garcia, Asher Lauderdale, Vorawuth (Pun Pun) Pattrakulchai and Elouan Poutrain also taking a final bow.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate University head triathlon coach Nick Radkewich
 
On the event: "I am very pleased with the event, the level of competition and our very first Senior Day. I am always excited when we have a safe event and this year, everyone appeared to have a great experience and stayed safe."
 
Great competition: "It's always great to compete against two of the country's top D1 programs in Queens and Duquesne. To get the win was a big accomplishment for the program. This was our first win against Queens, so we'll take it. The big test will be in two weeks at the Davidson Collegiate Cup, when we race against Queens and Lenoir-Rhyne over the full sprint distance."
 
Great performances: "We saw some great performances up front from Maddie and Carla, who both had great training over the summer and a great preseason. I was happy to see three of our freshman ladies make it to the finals, along with transfer Paige Black. Freshman Irmak
Şereflioğlu won the B final, while her classmates Paula Auschill and Babette van Rooyen did a great job making the A final. Babette was our fifth scorer, helping us seal the victory."
 
Coach Rad's shout-outs: "We must give a big shout-out to everyone that helped with the event from the Wingate University athletic department. Also, a huge shout-out to the Wingate swim team, who managed the timing and scoring for the event. #OneDog!"
 
Meet information
Swim: 300 yards
Bike: 5 miles
Run: 1.25 miles
 
Team scores (School, points)
1-Wingate, 203
2-Queens, 178
3-Duquesne, 168
4-Emmanuel (Ga.), 88
5-Newberry, 48
T6-Greensboro College, 9
T6-Warren Wilson, 9
 
Overall top three individuals (with finals' time)
1-Emma Olson-Keating, Queens, 24:34
2-Kira Ellis, Queens, 24:44
3-Maddie Gagnon, Wingate, 24:58
 
Top seven WU Bulldogs (in order of finish)
3-Maddie Gagnon, Wingate, 24:58
4-Carla Larrabeiti, Wingate, 25:08
9-Sophie Burger, Wingate, 26:22
10-Paula Auschill, Wingate, 27:05
11-Babette van Rooyen, Wingate, 27:18
12-Pamela Hernandez Quevedo, Wingate, 27:28
13-Irmak Şereflioğlu, Wingate, 26:06 (B final winner)
 
Bulldog Super Sprint Kickoff notes
 
- Duquesne head coach Joella Baker was Maddie Gagnon's club triathlon coach
- Baker escorted Gagnon to begin Wingate's post-meet Senior Day festivities
- The Bulldog Super Sprint Kickoff featured teams from all three NCAA divisions
- Wingate's Burger finished ninth in both the '23 and the '24 events
- For Duquesne, freshman Rachele Lavagno finished seventh (25:13)
- For Emmanuel, senior Carmen Medina finished 23rd (28:21)
- Carmen Medina is three-sport athlete for the EC Lions
- She runs cross country and swims for the Conference Carolinas members
- For Newberry, sophomore Kayleigh Geel finished 31st (29:42)
- Kayleigh Geel was the Wolves' top finisher in the '23 event
 
Next up for No. 2 Wingate University
 
The Bulldogs will compete in the Davidson Collegiate Cup presented by Trane Technologies on September 15 in Davidson, N.C. The men's and women's action begins bright and early at 8 a.m.
 
Wingate University
 
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,4T00 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 26 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 16 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at www.wingate.edu.
 
OneDog, #OneDog, and One Day One Dog are registered trademarks of Wingate University.