TEMPE, Ariz. (Nov. 16, 2019) - Having to fend off more competition than in years past, the North Central College women's triathlon team captured their third-straight USA Triathlon Division III National Championship, with Madelyn Scopp taking home the individual title.

The Cardinals won the team title with 10 points, while Trine University scored 25 for second, and Millikin University rounding out the top-three squads with 28.

The Cardinals were put in good position to start the race, with 2017 Individual Champion Grace Miller coming out of the water after the 750-meter swim ahead of the rest of the field, completing the swim in 11 minutes, five seconds.

A group of Cardinals were not too far behind, as Annika Cotner, Molly Olk, and Scopp came out of the water in 15th, 21st, and 23rd, respectively. Nicole Huff was the final Cardinal competitor out of the water in 31st.

"Basically getting out of the swim is the starting line," said Head Coach Jenny Garrison about the importance of the swim. "It is just where you're going to set yourself up for the rest of the race."

All through the bike, Miller and Trine University's Amira Faulknere joceled for first while the other competitors were a far way behind.

Although, Cotner and Scopp looked to make a big move together, working as a team to move up on the front two student-athletes. They sat third and fourth coming through the end of the 20-kilometer bike, having made up a lot of ground.

That ground was all that Scopp needed to catch the top-two racers, as that is the part that she excelled at during the whole year. She ran nearly a full minute faster than the second fastest runner. She completed the five kilometers in 20:45. She passed her teammate Miller and Trine's Faulknere and finished with the individual title.

Also making a big move during the run was Cotner, who took advantage of the run to move up to third place, where she ultimately finished.
Miller, who has struggled with a knee injury through the year, fell back a few spots in the run but was the Cardinal's final scorer, coming in sixth for her final collegiate race.

The Cardinal's final top-ten performance came from Molly Olk in eighth (1:17:11), while Nicole Huff (1:19:03) took 12th.

"They had a solid everything race," beamed Garrison. "They're all such hard workers."

The Cardinals look forward to 2020, where they attempt to make it four championships in a row.