COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The College Triathlon Coaches Association (CTCA) has released its list of collegiate triathlon All-Americans and the national champion Trine University women's triathlon team was recognized five times.
Seven athletes were chosen across three All-American teams for each division – first team, second team and honorable mention. The award recognizes women's varsity student-athletes and teams that excelled on the race course during the 2021 season.
The Thunder's five student-athletes was tied for highest number recognized from one institution at the Division III level. North Central College also had five student-athletes earn the honor, but Trine place more athletes on first and second teams.
A pair of Thunder came in as first team selections. Junior Amira Faulkner (Bellbrook, Ohio / Bellbrook) led the team to their national title, finishing runner up at the final championship event to be named first team. Alexandria Smith (Temperance, Mich. / Bedford) was the other team member to take home first team honors, she finished the championship event sixth with a time of 1:16:28.
Three more members of the team were named to the second team. Senior Kyra Warren (Kendallville, Ind. / East Noble) was the final member of the team to finish in the top-ten at the championships with a time of 1:17:57. Junior Samantha Weaver (Stevensville, Mich. / Lakeshore) and freshman Kathryn Berlew (Fremont, Ind. / Fremont) came in just outside the top-ten finishing 13th and 14th respectively and earning second team honors.
The 2021 women's varsity collegiate season saw athletes compete in three qualifying races, with the Thunder attending two, beginning in September, before lining up for the National Championship event that took place Nov. 11 in Tempe, Arizona. Trine returned home from the event with the programs first national championship.