SPEARFISH, S.D. – A year ago the Black Hills State University women's triathlon team sent the max of seven athletes to the national championships, a place they have seen significant success over the course of the program's history. This year, the No. 6 nationally ranked Yellow Jackets only return two of the seven national qualifiers, however, the team looks to punch two return tickets and a trio of tri-athletes look to qualify for the first time in their collegiate careers as they are set to compete at the NCAA West Regional in Fort Worth, Texas, on Sunday, October 26.
 
QUICK DETAILS
Date & Time: Sunday, October 26 at 8:30 AM / 9:30 AM CT
Location: Fort Worth, Texas – Marine Creek Lake Park
Super Sprint: 750-meter swim, 20-kilometer bike, and 5.0-kilometer run
B Wave Competitors: Lilly Brophy
A Wave Competitors: Payton Sheehan, Scarlett Walsh, Sydney Campbell, and Chantel Bickler
 
BLACK HILLS STATE STORYLINES

• In 2025 Black Hills State has recorded an eighth place finish at both the Southern Hills Triathlon and the Desert's Edge Triathlon, competing against some of the top NCAA Division I competition in both races, and then went on to finish fifth at the Prairie State Cup.
• In 2024 Black Hills State recorded their seventh consecutive top-6 finish at the Women's Collegiate Triathlon National Championships, finishing sixth in NCAA Division II with 462 team points.
• The Yellow Jackets are currently the No. 6 team in the CTCA Coaches' Poll in NCAA Division II.
• One of two returning national qualifiers from a year ago, sophomore Peyton Sheehan began the 2025 season with a career-best super sprint time of 35:12 for 35^th place at the Southern Hills Triathlon, and then in her last outing she clocked a career-best sprint time of 1:05:55 for 20^th place at the Prairie State Cup. She has been the top finishing Yellow Jacket in each of the first three races of the year.
• Another sophomore, Scarlett Walsh, has also emerged as one of the top tri-athletes for the Green & Gold this season, finishing second in the team lineup in all three of the races this year. At the Southern Hills Triathlon she clocked career-best sprint time of 36:16 for 44^th place and has added a career-best sprint time of 1:09:26 for 31^st place at the Prairie State Cup.
• The second of two returning national qualifiers for BHSU, Sydney Campbell has finished third in the team lineup in each of the first three races of the year. She notched a career-best best super sprint time of 38:09 for 48^th at the Southern Hills Triathlon to begin the season and then added a career-best sprint distance time of 1:11:02 for 38^th place at the Prairie State Cup in her last outing.
• Competing in two races thus far for the Yellow Jackets in 2025, Chantel Bickler notched a career-best time at the season opening Southern Hills Triathlon, posting a super sprint time of 38:54 for 50^th place, and added a career-best sprint time of 1:18:11 for 60^th place at the Prairie State Cup.
• Making her return to triathlon for the Green & Gold in 2025, Lilly Brophy has recorded season-best times of 41:15 for 53^rd place in a super sprint at the Southern Hills Triathlon and 1:17:47 for 59^th place in a sprint at the Prairie State Cup in her last outing.
• Black Hills State University triathlon alumna, Katie Christy, is in her first season as head coach of the Yellow Jackets.