The triathlon team is well on their way to defending their national title.
CU had an impressive showing at the Pumpkinman Triathlon held Saturday at Lake Mead in Boulder City, Nev. The triathlon consisted of three events: the sprint distance course (.75 mile swim/20k bike/5k run), the Olympic distance course (1.5k swim/40k bike/10k run) and the long course (1.2 mile swim/56 mile bike/13.1 mile run).
Twelve athletes from CU competed in the Olympic distance course and long course, with six placing in the top 10. Athletes from CU, Air Force Academy, N. Arizona University, CSU, BYU and New Mexico State also competed in the Pumpkinman Triathlon.
Sophomore integrative physiology Tess Amer placed 2nd overall (2:31:38) in the Olympic distance course, while Caryn Maconi, sophomore journalism major and CU Independent staff writer, placed 4th overall.
“The course was super hilly but a lot of fun,” Amer said. “There was a 6 mile hill at the end which is not characteristic of most triathlon courses.”
Several men also placed high in the Olympic distance course. Freshman integrative physiology major David Bobka took 5th overall (2:20:50), senior integrative physiology major Dan Finnin took 8th and electrical engineering graduate student Robert Atlvestine took 10th .
“The course was pretty hilly,” Bobka said. “I think with the number of people we had place at the triathlon today we are going to do really well at nationals in Tuscaloosa.”
Physics graduate student Will Kindel placed 6th overall in the long course. Despite the challenging hills, Kindel said he enjoyed the course.
“I think the race went well overall,” Kindel said. “I really enjoyed the contrast between the pain of racing and the natural beauty we were surrounded by.”
The Pumpkinman Triathlon scores athletes individually instead of by team. The team will race again at Lake Havasu in March for Regional championships. They will also compete at nationals in Tuscaloosa, Ala., in April as the returning champions.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Mackenzie Carroll at carrolma@colorado.edu.
