TEMPE, Ariz. -- The University of San Francisco women's triathlon team  brought the intensity to the desert finishing second as team in the 2021 Dual in the Desert NCAA Challenge Scrimmage. The Dons had strong individual performances as well, winning the individual 3K, 100 meter swim, 400 meter open water swim and individual triathlon results.

Final Results:

• Saturday's competition began with the individual 3K, with freshman Kira Gupta Baltazar coming in first place with a time of 9:58. Molly Elliot came in fourth place with a time of 10:11 and Gillian Cridge finished with a time of 10:14 good for sixth overall.
• Bike skills competition followed with Elliot leading the way for the Dons coming in at No. 12 overall.
• USF's team of of Elliot, Gupta Baltazar, Cridge and Kat Badham competed in the four mile team trial finishing third overall as a unit.
• Gupta Baltazar won the 100 meter swim with a time of 1:01 and the 400 meter open swim at 4:52.
• Concluding her strong performance in Tempe, the freshman Gupta Baltazar posted the best individual time of 26:45 for the triathlon. Elliot came in fifth place at 27:17 and Cridge finished with the ninth best time overall 27:42.

Catching up with Coach Kerr:
"The team had an excellent day of performance. Competing head-to-head against two very strong teams in the separate events allows the athletes to show their individual strengths as well as areas we need to improve. We are excited where this team is heading and are looking forward to our big training block as we get ready for the St. George National qualifier as our lead up to the NCAA Championships November 13." 

Overall Team Results:
1. Arizona State 1:49.01
2. San Francisco 1:50.43
3. South Dakota 1:53.08

3K Individual Results:
1. Kira Gupta Baltazar 9:58
4. Molly Elliot 10:11
6. Gillian Cridge 10:14
11. Kat Badham 10:45
18. Hannah Ye 11:18
19. Chloe Ramirez 11:47
20. Noga Gottlieb 11:54
21. Hayley Diemer 11:56
23. Maddie Perkins 12:11

Bike Skills:
12. Elliot 
13. Badham
15. Cridge
18. Gupta Baltazar
19. Gottlieb
22. Ramirez
23. Perkins
25. Diemer
26. Ye

4 Mile Team Trial:
3. USF Team A 9:35
6. USF Team B 9:47

100 Meter Swim:
1. Gupta Baltazar 1:01
3. Elliot 1:03
13. Ye 1:06
15. Diemer 1:07
19. Ramirez 1:09
21. Cridge 1:10
24. Perkins 1:12
25. Gottlieb 1:13

400 M Open Swim:
1. Gupta Baltazar 4:52
10. Elliot 5:13
12. Diemer 5:14
16. Ye 5:25
18. Cridge 5:25
23. Perkins 5:36
24. Gottlieb 6:00
25. Badham 6:09

Individual Results:
1. Gupta Baltazar 26:45
5. Elliot 27: 17
9. Cridge 27:42
17. Badham 28:59
18. Ye 29:05
19. Diemer 29:30
20. Ramirez 29:34
23. Perkins 30:05
24. Gottlieb 30:12


Up Next:
USF will now turn their attention to the Regional Qualifier on Oct. 30 in Hurricane, Utah. 

FOLLOW US:
For updates and more information on the University of San Francisco, women's triathlon team, please follow the Dons @USFTriathlon on Twitter and @USFDonsTriathlon on Instagram.