DENVER – University of Denver women's triathlon head coach
Barbara Perkins announced today that seniors
Clara Normand and
Olivia Ebenstein have been named team captains for 2024-25.
Normand returns as a captain after previously serving in the same role last season. She picked up two top-10 finishes in 2023 and placed inside the top 22 in all five races. She also earned her third consecutive All-American award after coming in 20th at the Collegiate National Championships.
The Coteau-du-Lac, Quebec, native owns 13 top-20 finishes, five top-five placements and four podiums in 15 career collegiate races. Normand, who began her college career at Wagner before transferring to Denver in 2022, owns six top-10 results with the Pioneers.
"Clara has been a natural leader since she joined our team," Perkins said. "She brings an extremely hard work ethic to practice every day. She has been selfless for her teammates and their performances, and she trusts the process and buys into what we are doing. Clara was a fantastic captain for us last year, and I'm looking forward to her leading us in her second year as team captain."
Ebenstein is entering her fourth season with Denver in 2024 after being a member for Perkins' first recruiting class. She placed in the top 15 in five-of-six races last year and recorded four top-10 finishes, including picking up her second career top five in spring 2024 at the Clermont Challenge.
A two-time All-American from East Setauket, New York, Ebenstein has placed in the top 20 in 16-of-19 career races and owns nine career top-10 finishes. Her best finish was in fourth at the 2021 Oktoberfest Sprint in Longmont, Colorado.
"Olivia is an OG. She was part of my very first recruiting class and has stuck it out through the entire evolution of this team," Perkins said. "She will outwork any athlete I've ever seen. She truly cares about this team and our success. Olivia wants to lead and has been the most consistent performer for us since day 1. I look forward to her serving us through this year as a team captain."
The DU triathlon team begins its four-race regular season this Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Southern Hills Triathlon super sprint in Hot Springs, South Dakota. The Pioneers will also compete at the Battle in the Fort Collegiate Cup on Sept. 29 in Fort Worth, Texas, and at the Western Regional Championships on Oct. 12 in Springfield, Missouri. The season culminates with the 2024 Collegiate National Championships on Nov. 9 in Clermont, Florida.
