University of Denver Athletics

Awards & Honors:
2x All-American Second Team (2021 & 2022)
2x CTCA Division I Scholar All-American (2021 & 2022)
2021 East All-Region Team
2021 West All-Region Team
2021 West All-Region D-I Top Freshman
Team MVP (2021-22)
Denver Athletics Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award winner (2022)
2021-22 USA Triathlon Women’s Age Group Triathlete of the Year Honorable Mention
 
Collegiate Career Breakdown
Races Entered: 11
Races Finished: 10
Best Finish: 1st (2x, last: The Southern Hills Triathlon, Hot Springs, S.D., 9/3/22)
Top 20: 10
Top 10: 8
Top 5: 5
Podiums: 5
Wins: 2
 
Collegiate Personal Records
750m Swim: 9:31 (Oktoberfest Sprint, Longmont, Colo., 9/19/21)
375m Swim: 5:08 (400m, The Southern Hills Triathlon, Hot Springs, S.D., 9/3/22)
20K Bike: 31:16 (Clermont Challenge U25 Development, Clermont, Fla., 3/5/22)
10K Bike: --
5K Run: 18:25 (Western Regional National Qualifier, Stockton, Mo., 10/14/22)
2.5K Run: --
 
DU Record Book
  •  Finished as the program leader in Wins (2), Podiums (5), Top 5s (5) and Top 10s (8)
  •  Finished with the Most Wins (1; 2021, 2022), Podiums (4; 2021-22) and Top 5s (4, 2021-22) and tied for the most Top 10s (5; 2021-22) in a single year in program history

2022:
Recorded three top-10 finishes and was in the top 15 in all five collegiate races during the year … Opened the regular season by winning the Southern Hills Triathlon on Sept. 3 in Hot Springs, S.D., picking up her second career victory and first since the 2021 Oktoberfest Sprint in Longmont, Colo., on Sept. 19, 2021 … Also helped the Pioneers win the team event at the race by finishing in a total time of 58:34.1 (5:07.6/32:20.8/20:23.4), including posting the fastest run split at 20:23 … Clocked in at 1:03:23 to finish 10th at the Oktoberfest Sprint in Longmont, Colo., on Sept. 24 (9:48/32:22/19:22) … Had the 13th-fastest individual time at 6:19 and helped Denver’s A Team to fourth place at the inaugural Mile High Relays on the DU campus on Sept. 25 … Placed ninth at the Western Regional National Qualifier in Stockton, Mo., on Oct. 14 in 1:02:59 (10:07/32:33/18:25) and recorded her fastest career 5K run  … Did not race at the Cal Bearathlon on Oct. 30 while competing with Team USA at the Pan American Junior Championship in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Oct. 29—placing fifth in 1:07:24 (16:20/31:50/18:44) … Earned Second-Team All-American honors by finishing in 1:06:16 (10:38/37:11/19:15) and in 12th place at the Collegiate National Championships in Tempe, Ariz., on Nov. 12.

2021:
Recorded four top-10 finishes and three podiums during the fall regular season … Made her collegiate debut at the Pleasant Prairie Central National Qualifier in Pleasant Prairie, Wis., on Sept. 4 but did not finish after crashing on the bike … Picked up her first collegiate victory the next race, winning the women's event at Oktoberfest Sprint, Longmont, Colo., on Sept. 19, 2021 (1:03:28) … It was the first of three straight podiums, as she placed second at the Smith Mountain Lake Eastern National Qualifier in Huddleston, Va., on Oct. 16 (1:01:46) and third at the St. George Western National Qualifier in Hurricane, Utah, on Oct. 30 (1:05:13) … Made her collegiate national championship debut on Nov. 13 in Tempe, Ariz., and finished ninth to earn second-team All-American honors (1:06:47) … In the spring season, came in second in the national development race at 2022 Clermont Challenge in Clermont, Fla., on March 5 (1:02:46).
 
International:
Made her international debut for Team USA at the World Triathlon Junior Championship sprint in Montreal, Quebec, on June 24, 2022, finishing 28th with a total time of 1:01:22 (Race changed to duathlon due to water safety) … Represented the United States at the Pan American (PATCO) Junior Championships in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Oct. 29-30, 2022 and finished fifth.
 
Other:
Was set to participate in the 2022 Americas Triathlon Junior North American Championship on March 12, 2022, but the race was cancelled due to severe weather … Qualified with Team USA for the World Triathlon Junior Championship by placing fourth at the East Coast Triathlon Festival on May 1 in Richmond, Va. … Finished third at the 2022 Junior Elite National Championships in West Chester, Ohio, on July 30 … Helped Project Podium to a second-place result in the Mixed Team Relay on July 31 at the Junior Elite Nationals in West Chester, Ohio.
 
Before Denver:
Bronze Medal at Youth Nationals in 2016 … Bronze Medal at High School Nationals in 2019 … Bronze Medal at Age Group Nationals in 2019 … Top-five performance at Pleasant Prairie Draft Legal in 2021 … All-America Award in 2017 and 2019 … Ranked fifth among age 16-17 females in 2019 … AP Scholar … Won the Hammer Down Award from high school swim team during her senior year … Previously coached by E3 Triathlon … Raced for Selctri … Trained with Magnolia Aquatic Club … Ran cross country during junior high school.
 
Personal:
Born in Nottingham, England ... Full name is Freya-Rose McKinley … Daughter of Matthew and Andrea McKinley … Chose DU for its active and outdoorsy lifestyle, the ability to explore hundreds of new training locations, the views and the opportunity to attend a school with such a high academic reputation … Wants to be involved in the medical field following graduation … Enjoys hiking, mountain biking, skiing and shopping … Hopes to assist in coaching a youth or junior triathlon team … Favorite TV show is The Office … Enjoys pop and hit music.
 
Why DU:
“I chose the University of Denver for both the academic and athletic opportunities it provided. The ability to train at an elite level and get an incredible education at the same time was something unbeatable. Also, the ability to train and live near the mountains, as well as train at altitude, is something no other school compares to.”
 
Why Triathlon:
“When I was 12, I was struggling with major knee problems. My eyes were opened to the sport by my aunt, who was coaching for a local youth triathlon team. Ever since I took part in the summer camp, I have never looked back. Triathlon has brought me friends, opportunities and experiences that would have never been possible if I hadn’t chosen this sport.”