by HOT SPRINGS, S.D. – Blazing the trail for the first time in program history, the Montana State University Billings triathlon team posted respectable results in the Southern Hills Triathlon Saturday morning at Angostura Recreation Area. With competition against Black Hills State University and other non-college participants, freshman Madisan Chavez (Crow Tribe) finished fifth (seventh overall) behind four BHSU athletes with a total time of 1:21:54.3.
Maddy Terwilliger crossed the line 25th overall and 12th among women participants with a time of 1:34:13.8. Myna Buckley, a Black Hills State freshman won the event with a time of 1:15:39.1.
“Overall the race turned out how I expected,” commented MSUB head coach Kevin Bjerke. “It was good to get the season started competing against established college triathletes. I was happy how both Madisan and Maddy were able to shake off their first race timid-ness and get into the water quickly. For the first time swimming in an open water setting, I felt it went well. We’ll need to start practicing transitions more. Today, they were pretty inefficient and at times frustrating. Once they were on the bikes though, both seemed pretty comfortable. With our current fitness level, I thought the run was a strong point also.”
Chavez ranked seventh best in the swim (17:35.8), 13th on the bicycle (39:27.4), and 10th in the five kilometer run (23:19.4). Terwilliger was strongest in the 5K with a 20thplace time (26:59.9). She also took the 22ndbest time in the swim (21:20.7) and was 24thbest on the bike (44:32.7).
Up Next: The Yellowjackets move on to the NCAA West Region Qualifier on September 15 in Belle Fourche, South Dakota at Belle Fourche Reservoir. If qualifying times are met, the NCAA National Championship is November 16 in Tempe, Arizona.
