DENVER – The University Denver women's triathlon team is fourth in the country after the first rankings of the 2024 season were released by the Collegiate Triathlon Coaches Association this week.
The Pioneers start the year with a score of 479.17 following its season-opening race at the Southern Hills Triathlon super sprint on Aug. 31 in Hot Springs, South Dakota. Denver placed second at the meet with 202 points, falling just one point behind Texas Christian University (203) as freshman
Ava Pfaff and senior
Olivia Ebenstein finished on the podium in second and third place, respectively.
The national rankings take into account 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.
TCU is the top-rated squad at 487.84 while Queens University of Charlotte is second with a score of 484.50. South Dakota is third at 479.62.
The CTCA also released its overall individual rankings for the entire collegiate field, with the Pioneers having two in the top three and three in the top 20.
Pfaff is second with a score of 98.57 and
Ebenstein is third at 98.52. Junior
Elizabeth Harita is 17th at 97.07, while senior
Clara Normand is 49th (93.43), junior
Coco Diemar is 68th (91.59) and senior
Avarie Faulkner is 74th (90.77).
Denver 2023 All-Americans
Maira Carreau and
Alex Campbell as well as freshman
Beatrice Normand did not receive scores since they did not race in the Southern Hills Triathlon. The DU trio missed the meet as they were in Canada preparing for their country's national championships, with all three placing in the top 10 at that event on Sept. 7.
Arizona's Kelly Wetteland is the top-rated individual collegiate triathlete with a 99.90 score.
The next rankings are expected to be released in two weeks following the next round of races.
The Pioneers are set for their first full sprint of the season on Sunday, Sept. 29 as they'll be at the Battle in the Fort Collegiate Cup at Marine Creek Reservoir in Fort Worth, Texas. Among the Division-I teams that are expected to race with DU are host TCU, Arizona, Arizona State and San Francisco.
Below is the full list of Division-I team rankings and Denver's overall individual student-athlete ratings.
DIVISION I TEAM RANKINGS
1. Texas Christian University – 487.83
2. Queens University – 484.50
3. South Dakota – 479.62
4. Denver – 479.17
5. Arizona – 473.19
6. Duquesne – 471.31
7. East Tennessee State – 468.67
8. San Francisco – 465.97
9. Delaware State – 437.48
10. Navy – 417.07
11. Wagner – 391.40
12. Hampton – 273.58
13. NKU – 273.31
14. Arizona State – 251.35
DENVER INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
2.
Ava Pfaff – 98.57
3.
Olivia Ebenstein – 98.52
17.
Elizabeth Harita – 97.07
49.
Clara Normand – 93.43
68.
Coco Diemar – 91.59
74.
Avarie Faulkner – 90.77
