SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE, Va. -- The Trine University women's triathlon team turned in a second-place team finish among the four assembled NCAA Division III teams at the 2023 East Regional Qualifier which took place on Saturday, October 14. Grace Huisman led the way for the team with the best individual finish in the division.

The Thunder finished the day wtih 256 team points, just seven out of first in the division. Eastern Mennonite University finished in first with their 263 points. The two other attending Division III teams were a distant third and fourth.

Huisman finished the event with a time of 1:06:18, coming in first in Division III and 57th overall. Second for the Thunder, and sixth in the division, was junior Kathryn Berlew, who led a group of four members of the Thunder with her time of 1:13:07. Crossing the line in near two-second intervals behind were Summer South (1:15:08), Rebecca Schaffner (1:17:52) and Mariah Hurst (1:19:23). Paige Aselage finished with a time of 1:22:20 and Alyssa Seiter rounded out the group with a time of 1:24:45.

Trine will next compete at the 2023 Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championships hosted by Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. The event is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 11.