INFO | USA Triathlon D2 results
INFO | USA Triathlon event page
 
Tempe, Ariz.----By a slim four-point margin, the Wingate University women's triathlon team finished second in the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships at Tempe Town Lake Saturday. South Atlantic Conference rival Lenoir-Rhyne edged '24 Division II national champion Wingate 762-758 to claim its second title.
 
The Bears and the Bulldogs are swapping national championships, as LR won its first crown in 2023. The five-year-old Wingate program is no stranger to podium finishes, as the 'Dogs finished second, third, second and first in their previous national championship appearances.
 
Wingate newcomer Shelby Lajeunesse completed her storybook first season by earning Division II Freshman of the Year honors, finishing third overall with her time of 1:05:28. Only Lenoir-Rhyne junior Zoila Sicilia (1:03:59) and senior Sabrina Fleig (1:04:26) had faster D2 times in the mid-80 degree heat Saturday.
 
What They Are Saying
Wingate head coach Nick Radkewich
 
"These were the most challenging National Championship conditions since the program began five years ago. With a 3 p.m. MST start, the Bulldogs did an amazing job racing the top programs not only in Division II, but also Division I in the Tempe desert heat."
 
"Our student-triathletes fought hard in all three disciplines, but came up four points short of repeating as national champions. I am very encouraged that our young squad, three freshmen, three sophomores and one junior moved the squad one place higher than last year in the overall standings (which include Divisions I, II and III). This bodes well for the future." 
 
"For the second consecutive year, the team claimed the Freshman of the Year recognition. Shelby Lajeunesse led the team by finishing third in the individual race and first among D2 freshmen. Shelby was joined by freshman Vanda Křížková and junior Pia Diemer as first team All- Americans."
 
"I was very impressed by freshman Beate Bula coming out of the water in the top 10 overall and having her strongest race of the year. Beate and our entire team will go into the off-season motivated to improve. We look forward to a successful spring race in preparation for the 2026 fall championship season."
 
What They Are Saying, part two
Wingate freshman student-triathlete Shelby Lajeunesse
 
"For me, the race was a great challenge from start to finish. I reminded myself about my team that was counting on me, which really helped me push through the challenges. I am really happy to come away with a third-place D2 finish, a Freshman of the Year title and a D2 team runner-up trophy." 

Wingate junior student-triathlete Pia Diemer
 
"Losing the national championship title by only four points is bittersweet, but the team gave it everything in Arizona. We delivered strong performances across the board and can be proud of how we raced. The heat was tough, but we handled it well and left everything out there on the run. The team can be very proud of a hard-fought runner-up finish at the 2025 National Championships!"
 
USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships (NCAA distances)
Event host: Arizona State University
 
Swim - 750 meters
Bike - 20 kilometers
Run - 5 kilometers
 
Wingate University women's triathlon results
USA Triathlon Collegiate NCAA championships

Overall place-name, time 
29-Shelby Lajeunesse, 1:05:28, All-American, first team
37-Vanda Křížková, 1:06:06, All-American, first team
40-Pia Diemer, 1:06:17, All-American, first team
44-Rebecca Nolan, 1:06:56, All-American, second team
47-Irmak Sereflioğlu, 1:07:42, All-American, second team
52-Beate Bula, 1:08:22, All-American, second team
54-Paula Auschill, 1:08:44, All-American, second team
 
Top five D2 teams
1-Lenoir-Rhyne, 762 points
2-Wingate, 758 points
3-Drury, 650 points
4-Colorado Mesa, 546 points
5-Cal Poly Humboldt, 492 points
 
Top 10 teams overall (D1, D2, D3)
1-Arizona, 927 points
2-Arizona State, 900 points
3-Texas Christian, 840 points
4-Queens, N.C., 821 points
5-South Dakota, 767 points
6-Lenoir-Rhyne, 762 points
7-Wingate, 758 points
8-East Tennessee, 742 points
9-Denver, 733 points
10-San Francisco, 683 points
 
(Editor's note: The top D3 team was No. 16 North Central, Ill. with 450 points.)
 
On the horizon for Wingate women's triathlon
 
After a much-deserved Thanksgiving break, the Bulldogs will prepare for final examinations December 8-12. Wingate earned CTCA Scholar All-American team status following the '24 season. Four student-triathletes were named Division II Scholar All-Americans, including then-national Freshman of the Year Paula Auschill.
 
Wingate returns to competition the last weekend of February, venturing to Florida for the '26 Clermont Draft Legal Challenge. In the '25 event, the Navy Blue and Vegas Gold-clad Bulldogs defeated nine Division I and Division II schools, including Arizona State and Lenoir-Rhyne, to take home the Clermont Draft Legal Challenge title.