CLERMONT, Fla. – USF triathlon was born in Fall of 2019 where three athletes put USF on the map by competing at the NCAA championship that November 2019. With the COVID-19 pandemic it would be 16 months later before USF would be on a race course again and this time with its first all-freshman recruited class.  USF traveled to Clermont, Fla., for two days of racing with three different races: Elite Cup, NCAA, and Elite Development Races with USF winning the Division I NCAA race.
 
Gillian Cridge and Hannah Ye opened up the racing for the Dons by competing in the morning in the ELITE CUP. Cridge had the fastest time of the day for the Dons with 1:01.49 and Ye clocked a 1:07:35
 
Chloe Ramirez, Hayley Diemar, Maddie Perkins, and Noga Gottlieb were the four athletes to compete in the NCAA race. Rameriz was the top finisher with 4th place (1:07.47), Diemer 10th (1:08.33), Perkins 16th (1:09.09) and Gottlieb 18th (1:09.13). NCAA triathlon is scored like cross country with four athletes placing as the score and the lowest score winning. Other Division I schools competing were Eastern Tennessee State, South Dakota, and Denver.
 
Ramirez raced the following day at the EDR competition placing 14th (1:07.52).
 
Coach Kehr had this to say about the race. "The team did great! We had some excellent races and we all know what we have to work on for fall 2021. The team loves racing, loves being together and is very proud to create history for USF."
 
Next up: The Dons will be hitting the race course again on March 14th at the Sarasota-Bradenton triathlon. Cridge is looking to compete in the Elite Cup division and Ye, Diemer, and  Perkins will be looking to compete in the Junior Elite division. To follow results go to http://www.srqtrifest.com/
 
For more information on USF triathlon, visit usfdons.com and click on the Women's Triathlon page. Be sure to follow us on Instagram @usfdonstriathlon.