TEMPE, Ariz. – Propelled by three Wildcats with top-20 times in Saturday's Collegiate Triathlon National Championship, Arizona Triathlon capped its inaugural season with a fifth-place performance. Junior Laura Holánszky posted Arizona's fastest time at 1:04:52, finishing the race in 11^th place overall. Junior Lydia Russell (1:05:12) and freshman Dana Prikrylová (1:05:30) rounded out the Wildcats top finishers in 14^th and 18^th place respectively.

"I could not be more proud of this team who showed up this first year and truly shined," said head coach Wes Johnson. "To take fifth place at the national championship in our first year, just only 16 points shy of a podium finish, is really mind blowing for me. The goal of year one has been accomplished by building an unbelievable culture with a unique team unity that will be the foundation of this program for years to come. The future is incredibly bright with Arizona Triathlon, and there are big things coming our way."

As it has throughout the season, Arizona was dominant in the swim portion of the NCAA Championship race with four of the seven fastest times. Holánszky and Kelly Lyn Wetteland were the first Cats through the opening leg of the face with times of 9:47 and 10:06. Russell paced the Wildcats through the 5k run, final stage with the second fastest time of the field at 17:33.

TOP FIVE NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
 

Team Finishes	Arizona Individual Finishes
1st - Arizona State - 999 points	11th - Laura Holánszky - 1:04:52
2nd - Queens University (N.C.) - 967 points	14th - Lydia Russell - 1:05:12
T-3rd - San Francisco - 933 points	18th - Dana Prikrylová - 1:05:30
T-3rd - Denver - 933 points	35th - Kelly Lyn Wetteland - 1:07:08
5th - University of Arizona - 917 points	50th - Molly Lakustiak 0 1:08:40

LOOKING AHEAD
Coach Johnson and the Wildcats will now begin their first offseason as a program, building on elite success in competition on the recruiting trail. In addition to strong individual performances throughout Arizona Triathlon's four official races this season, Laura Holánszky and Lydia Russell competed at the U23 Triathlon World Championships in Spain during the fall.

The program also announced its first full recruiting class earlier this week. The five-member class features elite international prospects as well as some of the nation's best high school triathlon athletes. Arizona's recruiting class includes future Wildcats who have already competed in Junior Triathlon World Championships, USA Triathlon Youth National Championships and European Championships.