HOT SPRINGS, S.D. – For the first time since 2007, Black Hills State University had a new team compete. The Yellow Jacket triathlon team opened a new era for Black Hills State with five top-10 finishes at the Southern Hills Triathlon at Angostura Recreation Area near Hot Springs, South Dakota.
Senior Tess Byrd led the Yellow Jacket charge with a fourth place overall finish, and winning her age bracket. She clocked in with an overall time of 1:23.11 after holding times of 19:18 in the swim, 40:02 on the bike and 22:18 in the run.
Kate Griffin placed sixth overall in the sprint triathlon in a total time of 1:25.30 after finishing the swim in 20:25, the bike in 39:47 and the run in 24:31. Just behind Griffin was Shenae LaCroix in a time of 1:27.41. The junior was the leader of the Yellow Jacket pack in the swim in a time of 18:13 and followed with 42:55 and 25:08 in the bike and run, respectively.
Finishing out three-straight BHSU finishers, Katie Christy placed eighth in a time of 1:29.02. She finished the swim in 20:36, the bike in 42:05 and the run in 24:21. Finishing out all five Yellow Jackets in the top-10 was Illiana Shuck placing 10th in a time of 1:31.30. She completed the swim in 24:42, the bike in 40:52 and the run in 24:46.
The emerging sport for the NCAA, triathlon, has two official meets. Black Hills State has filled in its schedule with three other meets, with the next taking place on Sunday, September 13 in Coralville, Iowa. The first NCAA sanctioned triathlon takes place September 27 in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin, for the Collegiate Region Championship.
