Race Coverage
Buenting 2nd at Nationals Qualifier...
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Tuesday, 07 September 2021 00:10
From DaemenWldcats.com
PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wisc. - Sophomore Bella Buenting (Chanhassen, Minn.) placed second among all NCAA Division II participants to pace the Daemen women's triathlon team this morning at the Collegiate Triathlon National Qualifier held today at Lake Andrea. It marked the first triathlon competition of the season for the Wildcats, and just the their second in the last 19 months. The Collegiate Triathlon National Qualifier is one of three national qualifying events sponsored by USA Triathlon for collegiate triathletes, and today's race field featured participants from both Division I and II institutions. ...
Buenting, competing in just the second triathlon of her collegiate career, placed 17th overall out of 43 triathletes who completed the course. Among the top 25 finishers, only four came from Division II teams. Buenting finished the course in 1:05:23.3 - two minutes behind Division II medalist Jayme-Sue Vermass of Drury who came in with a time of 1:03:19.6 to place 10th overall. Buenting finished the open water swim portion 11:56.7, transitioned to the cycling portion which lasted 32:45.3, and finished the race by running 5,000 meters in 19:48.0.
With her performance today, Buenting has qualified for the Collegiate Triathlon National Championships slated for Saturday, November 13 in Tempe, Arizona.
The Wildcats had two additional triathletes complete today's race. Graduate student Savannah Warner (Elma, N.Y.), also competing just her second collegiate triathlon, placed 40th overall (12th among Division II triathletes) with a time of 1:14:59.6. Sophomore Sadé Smith (Dumfries, Va.) made her Daemen debut and placed 43rd overall (15th among Division II triathletes) with a time of 1:23:58.3.
Arizona State claimed five of the top seven finishers today, including race winner Hannah Henry who completed the course in 1:00:15.0. She just edged her teammate Kyla Roy who posted a time of 1:00:19.7.
The Wildcats return to action Sunday, September 26 at the Ohio Fall Challenge.
