DENVER – The University Denver women's triathlon team enters this weekend's regional championships at No. 4 after the second rankings of the 2024 season were released by the Collegiate Triathlon Coaches Association last week.
 
Despite a fifth-place finish at the Battle in the Fort Collegiate Cup on Sept. 29 in Fort Worth, Texas, the Pioneers still improved their score from 479.17 to 488.76.
 
Arizona takes over the top spot at 498.09 after its win at the TCU-hosted race, while Arizona State is second at 495.03. TCU dropped from first to third at 489.29, while San Francisco rounds out the top five at 485.42.
 
The national rankings factor in all collegiate events during the regular season across all divisions. Teams have the opportunity to earn more points based on their performance in full triathlons but can also score points in other multi-sport events, such as relays or aquathlons. "Collegiate Cups" and regionals are weighted more heavily than other races.
 
The CTCA also released its overall individual rankings for the entire collegiate field, with the Pioneers having two student-athletes in the top 15 with freshman Ava Pfaff in 10th at 98.57 and senior Olivia Ebenstein in 11th at 98.52. The individual scores take into account each athlete's best finish during the year and can help them earn at at-large bid to the national championships if their team doesn't qualify.
 
Arizona State's Naomi Ruff is the top-rated individual collegiate triathlete with a 100.99 score while former No. 1 Arizona's Kelly Wetteland improved her rating but dropped to second at 100.65.
 
The Pioneers will travel to Springfield, Missouri, this Saturday for the Western Regional Championship at Fellows Lake. Among the other D-I teams competing in the West region are Arizona, Arizona State, South Dakota and Northern Kentucky
 
Below is the full list of Division-I team rankings and Denver's overall individual student-athlete ratings.
 
DIVISION I TEAM RANKINGS
1. Arizona – 498.08 (Previous: 5; 473.19)
2. Arizona State – 495.03 (Previous: 14; 251.35)
3. Texas Christian University – 489.29 (Previous: 1; 487.83)
4. Denver – 488.76 (Previous: 4; 479.17)
5. San Francisco – 485.42 (Previous: 8; 465.97)
6. Queens University – 484.50 (Previous: 2; 484.50)
7. East Tennessee State – 480.68 (Previous: 7; 468.67)
8. South Dakota – 479.70 (Previous: 3, 479.62)
9. Duquesne – 471.31 (Previous: 6; 471.31)
10. Navy – 449.19 (Previous: 10; 417.07)
11. Delaware State – 442.27 (Previous: 9; 437.48)
12. Wagner – 333.79 (Previous: 11; 391.40)
13. Hampton – 315.30 (Previous: 12; 273.58)
14. NKU – 277.75 (Previous: 13; 273.31)
 
DENVER INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
10. Ava Pfaff – 98.57 (Previous: 2)
11. Olivia Ebenstein – 98.52 (Previous: 3)
28. Beatrice Normand – 97.40 (Previous: NR)
30. Alex Campbell – 97.20 (Previous: NR)
17. Elizabeth Harita – 97.07 (Previous: 17)
39. Maira Carreau – 96.39 (Previous: NR)
41. Clara Normand – 96.25 (Previous: 49)
95. Avarie Faulkner – 91.60 (Previous: 74)
96. Coco Diemar – 91.59 (Previous: 68)